Gordons sets sights on Leeds elite as two partners join ranks

Yorkshire-based firm Gordons has recruited two partners and its managing partner Paul Ayre has vowed to join the cream of Leeds' crop.

"Our plans have been very clear and simple. We want to create a firm of equivalent standing to the big six in Leeds, which includes the national firms," said Ayre.

In addition to hiring 11 fee-earners across the board in the previous three months, Gordons has recruited ex-Addleshaw Goddard senior associate Paddy Sturman as a partner to launch Gordons' corporate banking practice.

Gordons has also boosted its commercial litigation department by hiring partner Martin Holdsworth from Leeds firm Godloves Solicitors.

Ayre said: "All of our departments have been growing steadily, some more than steadily. The creation of a corporate banking department is a key element of that strategy."

In respect of the commercial litigation practice and the hire of Holdsworth, Ayre said the firm intends to capitalise on what it perceives as an area of growth in the coming year.

So far its half-year results have corroborated Gordons' ambitions: turnover is up 17 per cent on the previous year's half-year results.

Gordons is ranked 101 in The Lawyer's UK200 and had a turnover of £18.7m in 2007.