Newcastle law firm Sintons is toasting another year of strong financial growth after seeing turnover rise more than 11%.
All staff members received a turnover-based bonus for the third year running following the results for the year ended March 2024, which have now been published to show an 11.5% increase in turnover, from 拢16.2m to 拢18.1m. Operating profit increased marginally from 拢6.36m to 拢6.59m, while staffing levels increased from 145 to 163 by year end, a figure that has since risen.
The firm said it aims to expand its team further during 2025, with plans to continue its successful apprenticeship programme. Recruitment is also already under way for more legal specialists to join its team. A report within the accounts highlights the seven-figure refurbishment of its city centre office, which has just been completed.
It said: 鈥淚n another financial year when the firm achieved a double-digit increase in turnover and a further 22 colleagues joined the business, Sintons continues to grow as the members invest further in ensuring that the firm has the best people, the best premises and the best systems to meet, and exceed, the expectations of our clients.
鈥淭he extensive redevelopment of the firm鈥檚 head office in Newcastle started during the year, with a project time of approximately nine months and a budgeted spend of approximately 拢1.8m. This is a bold reimagining of the way in which we work and the facilities we can provide to clients.
鈥淭he redevelopment being carried out provides the firm with an outstanding working environment for our people, a client dedicated suite and a colleague hub. This investment not only emphasises our commitment to the North East community, which the firm is proud to call home, but our confidence in the future direction of the firm.
鈥淥ur colleagues are the firm鈥檚 greatest asset and we thank them for their continued commitment and dedication to the firm. We were delighted to be in a position to pay, for the third year running, the maximum bonus to all our colleagues under our firmwide bonus scheme.鈥
Following publication of the accounts, managing partner Chris Welch said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful to have recorded another successful financial year, thanks to our outstanding people and the support of our clients. All areas of the business have performed exceptionally well, from our business-focused teams which support companies with all their legal requirements, through to our personal and family law experts and our colleagues who are helping those who have suffered traumatic and life-changing injuries.
鈥淗aving the best people as part of our team is vital to our success. We welcomed a wealth of new colleagues to the business in the last financial year and we鈥檝e added a further 40 colleagues in 2024, strengthening the excellent legal support we provide to businesses and to individuals.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also investing in the next generation of legal talent, and alongside our graduate recruitment programme we play a major role in the North East Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme, designed to provide different routes for people to qualify as lawyers.鈥
Every year Sintons also raises money for charity, with the team donating more than 拢30,000 to The People鈥檚 Kitchen. It has also raised over 拢8,000 since April for the Percy Hedley Foundation, the firm鈥檚 designated charity for the next two years.