Penningtons launches offices in Cambridge and Guildford

Posted: 19/03/2012

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce the opening of two new offices – in Cambridge and Guildford.

The new venture in Cambridge sees the corporate and employment lawyers from Charles Russell's Cambridge team join Penningtons. The office, located in Clarendon Road, close to Cambridge railway station and the CB2 commercial development, becomes operational on Monday 19 March and includes three partners, Tim Tyndall (employment) Hilary Aldred (employment) and James Stephen (corporate). Additional partner hires from other law firms are expected to be made to the Cambridge team over the summer months.

In Guildford, Penningtons will occupy the prestigious Bishop's Wharf development opposite the main line station from Wednesday 21 March. The decision to establish a base here reflects ongoing expansion across all parts of the firm's practice in Surrey meaning that it has outgrown the accommodation available at its existing Godalming base. Penningtons' corporate, employment and commercial property teams, including partners Simon Bickerdike (corporate), David Kendall (corporate), Mike Cole (employment), Stephen Law (commercial property) and Mike Busby (commercial property) will relocate to Guildford in a move that will enable them to be closer to their clients in the business community. The rest of the firm's practice, including the private client, clinical negligence, personal injury, travel and residential property groups, will continue to operate from Godalming.

Commenting on the opening of the new offices, Penningtons' managing partner David Raine said: "These are exciting steps which will allow us to continue our strategic aim of enhancing our core practice areas across the firm. By establishing a presence in Guildford we are reaffirming our commitment to our client base in Surrey while the specialist expertise of our new Cambridge team will also enable us to boost our developing reputation in the technology and education sectors, two increasingly important markets for the firm.

"We are delighted that the expansion of our practice over the last year is expected to lead to an increase in turnover of over 30%, bringing total fee income for 2011-2012 to £32 million. These latest moves will provide further platforms for sustainable growth following an extremely positive year for us, despite the difficult economic climate."

The Cambridge and Guildford launches come less than 12 months after Penningtons' merger with Dawsons Solicitors and acquisition of City firm Wedlake Saint which brought over 50 staff, including 10 partners, to the firm. The addition of the Cambridge practice will increase the number of partners at Penningtons to 68, with 360 staff in total. It will also mean that Penningtons has grown its partner headcount by over 30% in the past year.

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