A specialist team of Bradford lawyers, which is now one of the largest of its kind outside London, is riding high after boosting its fee income to £3 million after only three years.

The award-winning contentious trust and estate team at Gordons solicitors has recorded year-on-year actual revenue growth of between half and 65 per cent since its launch.

The team, which includes two partners, three solicitors and a trainee solicitor. It is led by Martin Holdsworth who joined Gordons in 2008.

Last month, the team won the private client award at the Yorkshire Lawyer Awards and earlier this year was the only practice outside the capital to be shortlisted in the contentious trust and estates team category at the National Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners private client awards.

The Gordons team has dealt with 300 new case enquiries, of which 98 per cent have been resolved. Nearly 30 per cent of new enquiries came from recommendations by other law firms and professionals. Only five per cent of cases have gone to trial, with the remaining 95 per cent dealt with through negotiation or mediation.

Mr Holdsworth said: “We are very pleased to have achieved what we have in a relatively short space of time with a service that perfectly complements Gordons’ existing personal and corporate law offers.

“Factors such as personal estates being worth more now than ever before, the vast majority of people having no valid will and the increase in families with half and step siblings have led to a rise in contentious probate claims over recent years.

“I am confident that we can continue to deliver growth whilst maintaining our reputation as one of the leading contentious trust and estates teams in the country. ”

Gordons, which has offices in Bradford and Leeds, employs 240 people, including 180 fee earners. Its corporate clients include the Bradford-based Morrisons.

Meanwhile, three Gordons lawyers, John Holden, Jonathan Asquez and Ahmed Choudhry, advised Yorkshire industrial group William Cook Holdings on the acquisition of Astrum (UK) Ltd from the joint administrators.

Astrum (UK) Ltd is the former William Cook Defence Ltd, which was sold to a management buyout in 2006.

John Holden said: “We have enjoyed helping deliver this transaction for Andrew (Cook) and the William Cook group and we are looking forward to seeing the next stage of growth for the enlarged group.”