Two professional service firms are expanding in Wales with new hires and offices.
National law firm Reeds Solicitors LLP has opened its second office in Wales. The new site is also located in Bridgend after opening its first Welsh office on Cowbridge Road East, in Cardiff.
The latest Welsh office, in Bridgend Industrial Estate on North Road, brings Reeds’ total portfolio of offices to 25 across England and Wales, following the recent launches of the firm’s Northampton and Iver offices.
It will be led by criminal solicitor Christopher Lacey, team leader of the firm's Cardiff Magistrate Court team who will manage both the Cardiff and Bridgend Magistrates Court teams. He will be joined by duty solicitor Nathan Adams with plans for a recruitment drive to increase the team.
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Reeds’ managing partner Jan Matthews said: "This is a busy time for us all here at Reeds. Despite the ongoing pay disputes around legal aid, and the market uncertainty affecting the UK, we continue to expand where opportunities arise. We are dedicated to what we see as a necessary service for our local communities, services that are now perhaps more important than ever given the current cost-of-living crisis.
"We are extremely proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s largest leading legal aid firms. Despite the long-standing underinvestment of the criminal justice system, we are determined to continue to provide legal aid services, aided by the expansion our bespoke privately funded services across England and Wales. We are there to help no matter what your circumstances."
Partner Jon Wilkins, in charge of Reeds’ growth strategy in Wales, said: "Our new Bridgend office shows our continued aim in expansion across key locations in South Wales and our absolute commitment to improving client access to our expert legal advice and representation.
"With an initial focus upon criminal defence, motoring law and defending complex criminal allegations Reeds Solicitors new office in Bridgend will help build upon the success of our Cardiff office and consolidate our presence within the South Wales legal market.
Meanwhile, a financial planning firm is looking to open its third office in north west Wales next year.
Mold and London-based Celtic Financial Planning is currently identifying locations in Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey to open an office as client demand grows. The firm has also taken on a new member of staff in chartered financial advisor Jamie Hughes.
Celtic Financial Planning director Rob Lewis, who is looking at different sites, is targeting £100m in managed funds from this year onwards.
He said: "We already have offices in Mold and London, so the natural next step given the amount of business we now have in that area - and with Jamie joining our diverse, principled team - is to have a presence there."
“There are a lot of opportunities for us to do even more along the coast and into those rural areas and we will be looking to capitalise on that in the coming months."
He added: “We do have clients travel to us from as far away as Anglesey and Caernarfon, but we want to make life easier for them, and the long-term aim will be for Jamie – an experienced and talented financial adviser – to be based there.
“We now have 12 staff, which demonstrates the commitment we have to our fantastic, loyal clients, and that will only increase in the years ahead.”
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