Lancashire Hotspots: Professional expertise on Lancaster’s doorstep

In association with Harrison Drury

Lancaster has always had good lawyers and accountants, but the professional community has become much more diverse. This is the view of Brett Cooper, head of the corporate and commercial team at law firm Harrison Drury’s Lancaster office.

“Ten years ago I would have said Lancaster wasn’t the strongest in the corporate and commercial sphere, but that has changed along with the legal services industry, meaning more commercial firms can spring up and compete.”

Brett continued: “We’re seeing more £5m to £10m turnover SMEs keeping their corporate legal work in the area. We’ve acted on two sizable acquisitions in the last 12 months where all the professional advisers were based locally.”

This rising confidence is underscored by Tony Whiteway, senior director at the Lancaster office of accountants and business advisers CLB Coopers. “There is an abundance of knowledge and expertise in the area among firms that are more than capable of offering the same level of skill and service as that which is wrongly perceived as the preserve of ‘big city’ players,” said Tony.

“The make-up of the local business community and the increasing number of  growing, ambitious businesses creates a need for a wider range of professional services. Brett added: “The potential to make Lancaster a thriving commercial hub is great. The professional community has to show it is able to help businesses invest in the area, to employ people, to expand and to develop.”

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