A proudly Yorkshire firm, Ison Harrison, has made its first move out of the White Rose county with an office opening in central Manchester.
The firm will move into the No1 Spinningfields building for its first expansion outside its home territory in its 48-year history.
Expansion Plans
This will be the full-service firm’s 27th regional office and takes headcount beyond 460. The Manchester branch will be led by property partner Niamh Wilson, who joined as a trainee solicitor.
Initially the Manchester office will focus on property, new build and commercial work, supported by the other offices as necessary, but will expand the legal services offered following further recruitment.
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Growth and Ownership
Ison Harrison became 100% employee-owned in 2022 and has since nearly doubled its annual revenue to £35m. Jonathan Wearing, managing director, said the growth of the firm was only made possible by this ownership change.
Ison Harrison plans to open further offices across the north of England following the model that it should be located in places where clients live and work. Jonathan Wearing added: ‘Our strategic expansion across the North has always been driven by where our clients need us to be.
Moving outside of our Yorkshire heartland for the first time in 48 years is a huge step, but doing so in Manchester felt like the natural next progression for our business. As an employee-owned law firm, every single member of the team is personally and financially invested in our collective success, which naturally supports a deeply client-focused culture. The model has given us the stability and ambition to scale up rapidly.
In terms of numbers, Ison Harrison’s revenue has increased significantly since the ownership change, with the firm now boasting an annual revenue of £35m. The firm’s headcount has also increased, with over 460 employees now working across the firm’s 27 offices.
