OPENING a new Ilkley office was a key element in significant expansion at a regional law firm.

Newtons Solicitors also completed a major acquisition and continued to recruit during 2014.

The Ilkley opening , along with the acquisition of a long-established Stokesley practice saw the firm’s group’s network expand to nine offices West and North Yorkshire and Teesside.

A total of ten new solicitors and 13 support staff were also recruited by the Knaresborough-based law firm, taking its total workforce to 70 only five years after it was founded by husband-and-wife legal entrepreneurs, Chris and Sarah Newton. .

Chris Newton, managing director, said: “Our Ilkley office, led by Victoria Trelease, was a completely new opening for us, our first move into West Yorkshire.

“The Stokesley acquisition introduced significant levels of corporate work to the firm and also introduced a new specialism of trusts and tax planning through one of the firm’s principals, Paula Warburton, which is now available group wide.

“Our group fee income increased from £1.8 million in 2013 to £2.6 million in 2014, and is expected to leap to £3.7 million in 2015 driven partly by the increased number of multi-million pound property deals and business acquisitions upon which the firm is being asked to advise.

“Our success in 2014 has already attracted four new solicitors who are signed up to join us in 2015 together with further potential law firm acquisitions. Our medium term goal of reaching a £5 million fee income is now in sight.”