Midlands law firm Wright Hassall, a multi-disciplinary practice representing businesses and individuals locally and nationally, has won The Lawyer Awards Regional Firm of the Year 2017 for its ambitious growth strategy and cultural goal to put the customer at the heart of everything it does.
About Wright Hassall
Wright Hassall is one of the largest law firms in the Midlands. As a multi-disciplinary practice with 286 employees, the firm represents businesses and individuals locally, regionally and nationally across a diverse range of sectors (agriculture, charities, housing, advanced manufacturing, financial services and technology to name but a few).
The firm’s success is a result of its collaborative and inclusive culture and robust vision that places staff and clients at the very heart of its business.
As an ambitious regional law firm that keep its values front of mind, Wright Hassall is not resting on its success of the previous 170 years. Its heritage may have shaped the practice we see today but the firm is very much focused on the future, continuing to stay fresh and exciting by coming up with innovative, creative ways to work with clients.
Clients buying legal services are looking for solutions to problems and want their lawyers to mirror the way they work, not the other way around. Wright Hassall is breaking the mould by thinking differently about how it can deliver client services – with each team member asking, “what does ‘great’ look like from the client’s perspective? Where can we add value?”
This client-centric approach sits at the heart of the firm’s value and is built into the cultural fabric of the organisation. The firm’s distinctive culture is what makes this Midlands firm a great working environment that is able to retain good staff to serve clients.
It encapsulated its core values into the FAIR principles: flexible, ambitious, inclusive and respectful.
These principles drive the way Wright Hassall works; from the working environment it creates to the way the team deals with opportunities and challenges presented by clients.
What makes Wright Hassall a winner?
Wright Hassall launched its strategic growth plan in 2015 with an objective to double the turnover of the firm by 2018. Judges were impressed by its approach to putting the customer at the heart of everything it does and the scale at which the business grew as a result.
Led by managing partner, Sarah Perry, the firm’s ambitious goals were made possible by its client-centric approach to deliver the right level of service at the right price to every client, every time.
1,113% increase in fee earnings
Wright Hassall runs regular ‘client listening exercises’ for each client. A typical one led to greater service provision and a 1,113% boost in fees from a single client
The firm has an active client relationship management programme which manages its strategic client relationships. This led to a 1,113 per cent increase in fees from one client after an effective client listening exercise and, for another, an increase from one to five in the number of services provided by Wright Hassall, resulting in a 109 per cent fee increase.
Account managed clients achieved a 17 per cent increase in turnover in 2016, outperforming the firm’s annual turnover increase.
Further rewards for winning The Lawyer Regional Firm of the Year
Winning The Lawyer’s Regional Law Firm of the Year boosted staff morale as it was testament to the hard work and commitment from all its employees.
More measurably, Wright Hassall also received excellent feedback from potential employees, attracted to the firm by its reputation and ambition which, they saw, was encapsulated in the winning of the award.
The awards has already opened doors, not just to prospective clients but also other professionals who refer work to the firm.
Winning the award has also helped to raise the profile of managing partner Sarah Perry (and, by association, the firm), gaining attention from a wider audience.
“Lots of law firms are moving away from the traditional ways of doing business. Tell about your one thing that gives you a competitive advantage”
How you can win
Sarah Perry, managing partner at Wright Hassall has this advice for those thinking of applying for the 2018 Regional Law Firm of the Year category: “Have one clear idea that gives you a competitive advantage. I think lots of law firms are moving away from the traditional ways of doing business, acknowledging that many clients see law firms simply as another service provider and not ‘special’ in any way (except when the ‘special’ status is earned when dealing with really complex legal work).”
Meanwhile London law firm and digital tech specialist Kemp Little has won The Lawyer Awards Boutique Firm of the Year. Read their profile and see if you too have what it takes to be a The Lawyer Awards winner.
Entries are open for The Lawyer Awards 2018.
You can view the 28 categories here to see where which is relevant to your firm. It’s free to enter and the deadline to submit is has been extended to Friday 2nd March to be considered for one of these prestigious awards. Please contact hugo.dejonge@centaurmedia.com if you have any queries.
