One law firm closes …. another door opens
Twelve employees of a well-known Bridlington law firm are joining Williamsons Solicitors which opened a branch in the town two years ago.
Wellington Road-based Stuart Smith & Burnett will cease trading at the end of August following the retirement of three of its four partners.
The arrangement will see all of Stuart Smith & Burnett’s staff continuing at their premises where they will be joined by Williamsons’ five staff who will move from their Quay Road office.
Bill Waddington, director at Williamsons Solicitors, which has a head office in Hull and another branch in Driffield, said:
“We moved to Bridlington because we felt there was mileage in bringing our breadth of expertise into the town. Since opening we have had a very positive experience, growing from two to five staff in a very short period of time.
“Stuart Smith & Burnett has a very good reputation and is well known for its work in wills, probate and property. The staff we are taking on have a lot of experience in these areas of law as well as excellent local knowledge.”
Sarah Clubley, head of the family department and a Williamsons director, said: “Their skills are an ideal fit with the services we provide and we are very much looking forward to working as a bigger team in Bridlington.
“The firm’s closure provides us with an excellent opportunity to more than treble the size of our operations in the town, and to continue providing our first class legal service but to a much bigger client base,“ she added.
Stuart Smith & Burnett’s partner, Richard Bancroft, will join Williamsons Solicitors in the move. He said: “It is excellent news that our staff will be able to retain their jobs and that we can all look forward to a successful future.
“We look forward to continuing relationships with our loyal clients.”
Stuart Smith & Burnett can trace its origins in Bridlington to the 1920’s. The retiring partners are David Burnett, Madeline Burnett and Michael Bowen.
Williamsons Solicitors employs 128 staff and provides a full range of services to private clients including civil litigation, clinical negligence, personal injury and conveyancing. Its defence advocacy and family departments are the largest in East Yorkshire. The firm also provides commercial property services.
