Building new successful work areas and developing teams across our four UK offices has been recognised in our shortlisting for the ‘Law Firm of the Year’ category at the national 2020 Modern Law Awards.
It comes as we, presently in the third and final year of a three-year business strategy, launched in our 20th year in business in 2017.
The plan aimed to pre-empt changes across the claims sector and ensure the business was ready to meet – and thrive – despite new challenges ahead.
Today, with the firm having achieved enhanced profits in 2019 despite tightening margins, having opened a fourth office to serve the North West in Manchester, and established new work departments in Civil Liberties, Travel and Abuse, chief executive Amanda Stevens says she is delighted with the recognition.
“There have been many changes across the firm over the past two years and it has been a period of transition for us all, so it is really pleasing to be recognised by a leading national legal awards event like this for our vision,” she said.
“Hudgell Solicitors may look a different firm today to that of five, or even three years ago, but as always excellence in client care underpins everything we do at the firm, as it did when Neil Hudgell founded the business in 1997.
“It is our USP that rehabilitation genuinely does run hand in hand alongside litigation in our work, and that continues to be clearly evidenced today across the cases we have in all departments and offices.”
Five areas of strategic reform identified and followed
Hudgells’ strategic plan centred around five key areas of reform – employee engagement and staff development, management structure, profitability, growing more work and IT and process.
“We’ve been completely committed to those five areas of focus for the business and it has brought pleasing results,” added Mrs Stevens.
“Perhaps most pleasing has been our success in developing three new specialist work areas in Civil Liberties, Abuse and Travel Litigation, which are each now led by respected lawyers specifically recruited for their experience and expertise.
These departments are now securing cases of substantial value and national prominence.
“Crucially, our diversification has not come at the expense of the core areas of personal injury and clinical negligence, as we have ensured lawyers have been freed up to focus on client excellence and staff supervision.
“Importantly, we have also brought in expertise from the world of commerce, which has ensured an efficient back room process underpins everything we do.
“We’ve also developed and grown our own specialist in-house costs team and designed and delivered a training programme for staff to help our young lawyers grow in commerciality and leadership. Internal promotions have followed as a result of this.
“We’re also proud to be using apprenticeship levies, and that we continue to support training contracts, which many firms have abandoned, which further underpins our firm’s commitment to the rising generation.”
Awards recognise ‘best talent, practice and innovative business leaders’
The Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards, now in their seventh year, recognise the best talent and success in entrepreneurship, market development, business management and best practice in the modern legal services arena.
They celebrate the innovative business leaders and those changing the face of business strategy and development, regulation management and client care, for both short and long-term gain.
The Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 6th, at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, and Mrs Stevens says it will be a chance to reflect on a successful 2019.
“We’ve continually secured excellent external testimonials for our work in 2019 and this comes on the back of being described as one of the most progressive and ambitious firms of our kind in the Legal 500 guide.
“The dedication and commitment required to provide an excellent service is all made worthwhile when it is recognised and appreciated by your clients, but also your peers, so we are very proud to be finalists in this prestigious category.”