Napthens marks a year of Manchester growth with expanding team

Napthens has marked the first year of its Manchester office with an expanding team, broader legal services and growing links across the city’s business and professional community.

Since officially opening the office in November 2025, the firm has invested in specialist recruitment, community initiatives and events that bring together businesses and advisers from across Greater Manchester.

The team now includes specialists in real estate, family law, litigation, wills, trusts and probate, commercial law, corporate law and residential conveyancing. This includes Krista Powell, real estate partner and head of the Manchester office; Amy Harris, partner in the Family Team; Sven Clarke, partner in the litigation team; Nicola Meakin, legal director in the commercial team; and James Coates, solicitor in the corporate team.

Solicitors Onyeka Obidi and Amena Alam support residential conveyancing clients in Manchester, while Francesca Geddes, associate solicitor in the litigation team, works across Napthens’ Preston and Manchester offices and specialises in commercial litigation and contentious insolvency. Roxanne Buckley, immigration senior associate solicitor at AfterAthena, provides specialist business immigration support in the city.

The office has most recently welcomed Charlotte Pritchard, legal director and trust and estate practitioner (TEP). She is the first dedicated member of the wills, trusts and probate team to be based in Manchester, further broadening the specialist support available to clients in the region.

Charlotte Pritchard advises high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners and farming clients on wills, trusts, estate and succession planning, inheritance tax and complex estates. Her work regularly involves family businesses, trusts and cross-border assets, and she works closely with other professional advisers to provide practical, tailored advice. She is a full member of STEP’s Manchester branch.

Alongside expanding their team and services, Napthens has strengthened its links with Manchester’s business community. The firm is a member of pro-manchester, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Manchester Law Society.

Napthens colleagues are also contributing directly to pro-manchester’s work. Krista Powell, partner and head of the Manchester office, is a member of its hospitality committee, and Orla Walshe, paralegal, has joined its future pro-manchester committee.

The Manchester team has supported several charitable and community initiatives during the year. Colleagues took part in the Manchester Great Run 10K and Manchester Dragon Boat Festival in aid of the NSPCC, raising £1,698.75 including Gift Aid.

The firm also hosted an International Women’s Day roundtable for law students and others aspiring to enter the legal profession. The event gave attendees an opportunity to share experiences, explore routes into the sector and discuss how the legal industry can become more inclusive.

A growing programme of events has helped Napthens build further connections with businesses, intermediaries and sector specialists. The Napthens Real Estate Club held its first Manchester event at Pitch, bringing together figures from the region’s property sector to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the market.

The firm also hosted its first Manchester Mixer at Malmaison Deansgate, creating an opportunity for clients, intermediaries and professionals from different sectors to make new connections and strengthen existing relationships. A further Manchester Mixer is planned as part of Manchester Art Fair, which Napthens is sponsoring.

The wider Napthens Group has also brought its expertise to the city through AfterAthena, including participating in the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition in November 2025. AfterAthena will return to the conference in November 2026.

The office’s growing presence is also reflected in work for clients across the region, including supporting Bridge Properties with its acquisition of Phoenix House in Manchester.

Krista Powell, partner and head of Napthens’ Manchester office, said: "Over the last year, we have built a strong multidisciplinary team in Manchester and broadened the specialist support we can offer clients across the region.

"Manchester has a dynamic and ambitious business community. We have worked hard to become part of that community by building relationships, supporting local initiatives and creating opportunities for professionals and businesses to connect.

"Charlotte Pritchard’s arrival as our first dedicated wills, trusts and probate specialist in Manchester is another important milestone. It strengthens our private client expertise and takes us closer to providing a comprehensive range of services from the office.

"We are proud of what the team have achieved in their first year and look forward to continuing that growth."

Stephen Faulkner, managing director of Napthens, said: "Manchester is an important part of our growth strategy, and the progress made over the last year reflects our long-term commitment to the city.

"We have invested in talented people, expanded our expertise and built strong relationships across Manchester’s business community. This growing presence complements our wider offering across the north west and creates new opportunities for our clients and colleagues.

"The office’s success reflects the ambition, expertise and collaborative approach found across Napthens. We look forward to building on these foundations in the years ahead."

Napthens will continue to invest in specialist expertise, build relationships across Manchester and develop its programme of activity in the city.