As a result of the locational growth and the firm’s commitment to meeting the ever-increasing demand for its various services, in January 2024, Holmes & Hills Solicitors reached a milestone of more than 200 legal industry specialists employed.
In 2023, Holmes & Hills opened its seventh office in Witham to become more accessible to the firm’s expanding customer base in that locality. As well as this, in 2022 Holmes & Hills moved to a more prominent full-time office location in Tiptree and in 2023, the firm opened a new location in Coggeshall. These changes were implemented from demand to better accommodate the needs of the firms’ loyal clients in those areas. As a result of these advancements, Holmes & Hills Solicitors now provides services for new and existing clients in the vicinity of seven offices in North Essex and Suffolk – Colchester, Braintree, Halstead, Sudbury, Coggeshall, Tiptree and Witham.
Not only is the firm’s personnel growth due to the expansion of geographical locations; Holmes & Hills continues to expand its reach for new expertise and capability of legal specialists and significant clientele from within the region, due to its increased recognition as a leading source of specialist legal advice in the region by Legal 500 and Chambers UK - 2 independent directories of the UK’s top law firms. In 2023, Holmes & Hills boasted two departmental rankings in Chambers & Partners and five practice area rankings in the Legal 500, the highest number of rankings in the firm’s history. This recognition of Departments and Divisions is a credit to the growing expertise within the firm and has supported Holmes & Hills’ recruitment plans.
Further developments within the firm have propelled Holmes & Hills' growth trajectory, stemming from the introduction of a new career pathway document for Holmes & Hills employees, providing a clear framework for progression in the firm’s new structure and size. In 2023, the firm continued to support many employees on their road to qualification through various routes and announced the promotion of two new partners, Lawrence Pearce and Rachel Shaw, as well as the introduction of an executive senior associate role, 5 new senior associates, and 5 new associates. These promotions pave the way for further recruitment to support those individuals in their new roles. Moreover, there was a leadership change, with partners Rebecca Mason and Steven Hopkins taking over the management from Mark Cornell, who had tenured over a decade as managing partner.
In 2023, Holmes & Hills hired over 50 new members of staff. This recruitment included not only the bolstering of expertise in the firm’s Departments and Divisions to support service demand, but it was also necessary to create new central services roles to support the firm’s growth. Significant growth has been seen in the firm’s Family Law Department - spearheaded by partner Carol Toulson - to currently comprise 6 family solicitors and a trainee solicitor, as well as the firm’s Construction Division – currently comprising 2 partners, 2 solicitors and 2 trainee solicitors all with a 100% Construction Law workload, as well as ongoing recruitment for an associate to work solely within the Division.
Notable specialist hires in 2023 include senior associates, Craig Kelly, head of the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Department and Rosanna Clarke joining the Commercial Property Department. As well as central services hires, in Risk and Compliance, a new head of HR, Ellie Fletcher, a client enquiries and sales manager, Darren Mitchell, as well as 3 apprentices to support the firm’s HR, Marketing, and IT Departments. Furthermore, a new partner, Rebecca Hempstead, joined Holmes & Hills as partner and head of the Private Wealth Team. Recent hires include commercial solicitor – Joe Metcalfe, commercial property solicitor – Seray Caglayan, property litigation solicitors – Joshua Watts and Dee Karatay and family solicitors – Kuba Kubiszyn and Sarah Holbrook.
Overall, the amplified size and dominance of Holmes & Hills Solicitors enables the firm to provide commercial and private individual clients regionally, a single source of expert advice covering all of their legal needs.
Holmes and Hills Solicitors is continuing to recruit and expand its Departments and Divisions, with many roles currently being advertised. This includes Holmes & Hills’ annual and largest intake of trainee solicitors to date. Information on all the recruitment opportunities available can be found here.
A Mackman Group collaboration - market research by Mackman Research | website design by Mackman
