Lancashire Law Firm Celebrates 25 Years Of Successful Business Partnership

Monday 10th October 2016

Accrington law experts celebrate a quarter of a century serving the people of Lancashire and beyond

Accrington-based law firm, QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond, marked its 25th anniversary last Friday with a networking event for clients, suppliers and staff from both past and present.

The firm, which has been trading as a partnership since 1991, is run jointly by partners David Acklam and Denise Bond who have a total of 66 years of legal experience between them.  The firm boasts a 90% approval rate from clients and the founders attribute their growth and longevity to word-of-mouth marketing in the local area and commitment to providing an exceptional customer service.  Present at the event were Mr. and Mrs. P Hey who were David Acklam’s first ever customers and still use the firm to this day.

The firm has had two office moves in their 25 years of operation, previously being based on Warner Street in Accrington before moving to larger more modern premises on St. James’ Street, Accrington. The current headcount stands at 10 legal professionals and 14 support staff,.

QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond have worked on some high profile cases from across the North West in recent years. Denise Bond ensured a compensation payment in excess of £1m for a client who was catastrophically injured in an accident.

Just last month, Acklam Bond also successfully represented private healthcare provider SSP Health in a challenge as to the Care Quality Commission dealt with their ratings process. The case saw Acklam Bond successfully argue that the CQC’s processes in terms of reviewing GP practices were flawed, leading to the landmark ruling that the CQC should indeed review their own inspection processes.

As well as serious, high-profile cases Acklam Bond have also had to apply their expertise to slightly more obscure cases. For example, Denise once worked with Burnley Borough Council to help with the confiscation of a male adult lion called Lester from a residential address!

In addition to running a successful firm, both David and Denise are very active in the local community. David is a member of the board of trustees of Age UK Lancashire and a director of Hyndburn Enterprise, a not for profit organisation helping entrepreneurs in the Lancashire area.  Denise has raised a considerable sum of money for the children’s charity PETAL - which helps children affected by cancer.

QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond is renowned in the local area for how they invest in the development of their staff and this is reflected by the years of service members of the senior team have dedicated to the firm. For example, Office Manager Kathryn Reddin joined the firm as a secretary in 2003, Carla Oldale has progressed from a typist to Head of Personal Injury in 11 years, Julie Meeks started off a legal assistant over 19 years ago and now heads up the Residential Conveyancing Team and Managing Director Roberto Carassale has spent two spells with the firm dating back to a university placement in 1996.

David Acklam, Director at QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond comments:

’Today is a real landmark moment for QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond. We are delighted to be in a position to celebrate our 25th anniversary, especially at a time when the business appears to be going from strength to strength. It is a testament to the devotion and standard of our excellent team that the firm finds itself in the position it is in today.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the firm’s clients, customers, suppliers, staff and friends for their role in our journey. It is my sincere hope that the next 25 years will be as successful as the last 25 as we move into the next phase of developing QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond.’

About QualitySolicitors:

• Launched in 2010, QualitySolicitors is a group of law firms across the country working as part of the QualitySolicitors brand. Only one firm per local area is selected to become a QualitySolicitors partner. Customer feedback forms an integral part of the selection process.
• QualitySolicitors’ national network of lawyers consists of over 100 branches across England and Wales.
• QualitySolicitors lawyers are experts in their fields dealing with both consumer and SME legal matters. QualitySolicitors offers a personal, local service but with the assurance of a recognised national brand.
• QualitySolicitors’ website address is www.qualitysolicitors.com
• In 2011 QualitySolicitors secured equity investment from Palamon Capital Partners, a private equity house with a £700m fund.