As part of the firm’s strategic growth plans, and to reflect its evolving service offering, the top 200 law firm Tees has unveiled a significant brand refresh. At a time when the legal sector, like many others, is undergoing considerable change and consolidation, Tees is maintaining its focus on ‘collaborative’ growth – mainly organic – with clients and staff at the very heart of its plans.
The brand refresh is just one element of the firm’s strategy which includes plans to achieving a turnover of £60m by 2028. The most recently published figures (for 2024) show a turnover of £30m with 2025 likely to outturn c.£35m. And, to put the plans into context – in 2020 the figure was £23m. Partner and employee figures currently stand at 28+ and 400+ respectively, increasing from 27 and just under 300 in 2020.
Another change is the increase in the firm’s footprint. Its locations have grown to include six offices across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. While local offices continue to contribute significantly to one of Tees’ traditional strengths of private client work, the firm’s footprint now extends well outside the southeast. There are few areas across England and Wales that don’t host a Tees client.
Tees’ historic specialism within the agricultural and rural communities has resulted in longstanding relationships, often extending back through many generations. While these relationships have been maintained, increasingly farmers located outside Tees’ traditional heartland – seeking real specialists – have sought Tees’ advice.
In recent times, Tees has built an impressive corporate and commercial team with an expanding client base that reflects its broadened capabilities. The firm now routinely advise on high-value, complex matters for the business community across corporate and commercial, litigation, and commercial property law. Again, location is less of an issue for clients seeking specialists.
Tees will continue to focus on a dual approach: expanding its footprint within the local area and broadening its appeal across England and Wales through the provision of specialist services and working hard to harness the latest technology to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of those services.
The contraction of the traditional high street is influencing the strategic planning of legal firms whose roots lie in the local community. Tees is committed to working in the community but appreciates the need to cater for changing client needs, not least for easier access. This has led to the decision to relocate the Saffron Walden office from its historic high street location to a more accessible location allowing for further expansion and with better parking. This approach also led to the relocation of its Royston office to its new North Hertfordshire Agricultural hub on the same site as the NFU Mutual headquarters.
Despite the advent of AI and the efficiencies it is already bringing to their clients, Tees believe that their ambitious growth plans can predominantly be achieved by increasing partner and staff numbers – great news for the communities it works in. Currently, Tees is the biggest employer in Bishop’s Stortford with a total of 444 staff members, and offices in Brentwood, North Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Chelmsford and Saffron Walden.
Recruiting the right people is a challenge for any business but Tees’ independence and partner-led approach, coupled with a growth culture, stable environment and strong work-life balance credentials, provide considerable attractions to would be employees.
The brand refresh is a key part of Tees’ strategic repositioning, spotlighting its capabilities as a full-service legal practice with an integrated financial services arm. The firm’s independent financial advisers work closely with legal teams to provide joined-up, holistic advice to private individuals, entrepreneurs, and business owners alike.
“This is more than a cosmetic update — it’s a statement about our ambition,” said Managing Director Ashton Hunt. “We’ve built a strong foundation in private client work, but today we’re advising on multimillion-pound transactions and delivering sophisticated legal and financial planning services. Our refreshed brand now gives the full picture and better reflects the complete scope of what we offer.”
Head of Corporate and Commercial, Partner Lucy Folley, added: “We’re seeing increasing demand from businesses that want seamless legal advice across commercial law, property, employment, and dispute resolution. Our growth in this space has been substantial, and the new brand positions us to better reflect and serve that market.”
The firm’s rebrand comes as it continues to grow its regional and national presence, meeting rising client expectations for integrated, forward-thinking legal and financial solutions.
