Release date 4th May 2001

As a founder member of the UK 200 Lawyers Group, Chris Wiper, senior partner at Close Thornton Solicitors in Darlington, recently met with Jim Collett, Chief Executive of the Group. Their discussions focused on how the UK 200 Lawyers Groups will help Close Thornton develop its quality and management systems enabling the firm to offer its commercial clients an equivalent service to large city based practices.

The UK 200 Lawyers Group is being established under the umbrella of the already successful UK 200 Group of approximately 170 UK accountancy firms. The aim of the Lawyers Group is to offer medium-sized solicitors’ practices complementary services to the accountancy firms.

Benefits of membership to the UK 200 Legal Group are twofold:

First, the UK 200 Legal Group will be able to provide a focused practice development service specifically tailored for medium-sized solicitors’ practices and barristers’ chambers. Members will have available to them opportunities for networking amongst the accountancy members, in addition to referral within the membership of specialist work - subject to client retention safeguards. There will also be international opportunities via the affiliate International Association of Practising Accountants as well as marketing, product development and PR initiatives group-wide.

Second, it will ensure that its members provide high standards and a cost-effective yet quality service to their commercial clients. Membership of the Group will mean that similar sized law firms will provide similar standards as their accountancy counterparts. Their combined strength will strengthen their ability to provide a service equal to their larger competitors.

"This is an exciting step forward for us",

"It will open doors and enable us to look for links to a group of accountancy firms for our clients’ benefit. In addition it strengthens our ability to provide our clients with a quality management system and effective personal service without them having to go to one of the larger city firms"

For his part, Jim Collett in welcoming Close Thornton, said,

"This is just the sort of forward-thinking law firm that our Group wishes to welcome on board. It is excellent for us, them, their staff and of course their clients."

For further information about membership of the UK 200 Lawyers Group contact Jim Collett on 01252 333 511.

For further information about this news release please contact Close Thornton Solicitors Marketing and Media Department. Tel: 01325 466461 or e-mail.

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