Ridley & Hall has expanded its presence in Yorkshire after agreeing to take over approximately 400 family and residential property cases from Berwins Solicitors, which recently appointed administrators.
The deal will see Ridley & Hall establish a new office in Harrogate and bring six experienced members of the former Berwins team into its workforce. The move is intended to provide continuity for affected clients while allowing the incoming legal professionals to continue working together.
The firm, which already operates four offices across Yorkshire, said it had moved quickly to secure the cases and recruit members of the former practice. The acquisition covers family law and property matters previously handled by Berwins.
Emma Pearmaine, managing director of Ridley & Hall, said the expansion demonstrated the firm’s financial strength and ambition to develop its operations. She also welcomed the newly recruited solicitors and highlighted the experience they would bring to the business.
Pearmaine acknowledged that Berwins’ decision to appoint administrators was unfortunate, particularly given the firm’s established position in the legal sector. She explained that Ridley & Hall’s rapid response had helped provide reassurance to hundreds of clients who might otherwise have faced uncertainty and disruption.
Ridley & Hall confirmed that it had contacted affected clients regarding the transfer of their legal files. The firm said arrangements had been made to make the transition as straightforward as possible and minimise interruptions to ongoing cases.
Former Berwins director Michelle Crowhurst will lead the residential property department, while Danielle Day, previously managing director of Berwins, will head the family law team.
The new Harrogate office will also include residential property specialists Rachael Fell, Alice Hoyle and Jenny Spence, alongside family law specialist Rachael Lyon.
Founded in Huddersfield almost a century ago, Ridley & Hall now employs more than 120 people. Its Yorkshire expansion has included opening a Leeds office in 2018, acquiring Pontefract-based Bashforth Young in 2019 and completing the acquisition of Barnsley firm Newman & Bond in 2021.
The latest development forms part of the firm’s wider growth strategy. Pearmaine explained that Harrogate had already been considered as a potential location for expansion, with the circumstances surrounding Berwins accelerating those plans.
She also highlighted recent investment in IT infrastructure, case management systems and business management software. These improvements are intended to support the firm’s continued development and help it work towards its target of achieving £7 million in turnover during its centenary year.
The acquisition represents a significant expansion for Ridley & Hall while providing an opportunity for former Berwins employees to continue their legal work and maintain support for clients during a period of change.
