M4 corridor law firm Thrings, which has an office in Bath, is to open a base in Southampton as part of its ambitious expansion plans to address changes in the legal market.
The new office, which opens in October, will initially focus on agriculture, landed estates and private client work. 
But it will also potentially open up new areas of work on the South Coast and into the South East for the firm, which also has offices in Bristol, Swindon and London.
Recently re-elected managing partner Simon Holdsworth, pictured, said the move came at a time when law firms needed to look at a range of options – including organic growth, mergers, acquisitions and bolt-ons – to ensure continued growth in an increasingly challenging market.
Thrings has grown organically in recent years with a 35% increase in turnover over the past three years. But Mr Holdsworth said the EU referendum result had ushered in seismic changes in the economy from which law firms were not exempt. As a result they needed to adapt to market changes.
“The UK’s decision to leave the EU has heralded a period of unprecedented economic and political uncertainty for businesses in this country,” said Mr Holdsworth.
“This includes law firms, who will need to adopt a range of strategies to achieve the so-called growth imperative in what is an ever-changing and increasingly competitive legal landscape.”
He said in addition to offering bespoke, transparent pricing options, Thrings had continued to invest heavily in IT, systems and processes, reviewed its recruitment and talent retention strategies, and identified ways to offer more commercial services to new and long-term clients.
“This has enabled us to deliver a higher level of service in line with our clients’ specific legal needs,” he said.
Thrings has the largest specialist agricultural team of any law firm in the UK. It said the new Southampton office would enable it to strengthen its links with the farming community in the South East, where it is a member of the NFU Legal Panel for seven counties.
Thrings has continued to invest in its staff over the past year, adding further experience to existing teams with the appointment of legal specialists Caroline Watson and Ben Tarrant as partners, and promoting four associate solicitors to the Thrings partnership.
In May it introduced a new role to its career structure by appointing four senior solicitors – Charlotte Barrett, Robert Barnes, Charles Wakefield and Anna Patterson – to the position of legal director.
The opening of the new office in Southampton is also expected to lead to Thrings making further senior appointments.
Mr Holdsworth, now in his second three-year term as managing partner, added: “We are tremendously excited about opening our new office in Southampton, which we believe will allow the firm to further strengthen its agriculture, landed estates and private client offerings in the South of England, build on the strong links we have in the region, and work alongside our clients as they continue to capitalise on growth opportunities.”
