Investing in Chesterfield: Law firm supports people, businesses and charities and nurtures young talent

From left: Executive director Rob Woodhead, operations manager Liz Hill, practice manager Clare Ashby and chief cashier Tim Davis

Investment, recruitment and charity support are just some of the ongoing developments at a law firm that has readily adapted to serve its community for more than 40 years.

BRM Solicitors is a leading commercial and private client law firm, with its head office located in the heart of Chesterfield town centre.

Since the 1980s BRM has supported businesses and individuals in and around the local area. It is a proud Chesterfield business and has recently invested heavily in its office revamp on Saltergate which complements the impressive Northern Gateway to the town.

The office has undergone significant redevelopment and refurbishment internally and externally to ensure that it remains a permanent fixture on Saltergate and a great place to work and for clients to visit.

BRM’s offices can be found in the heart of Chesterfield on Saltergate

Importance of town centre

Rob Woodhead, executive director at BRM, commented: “This project has been on the cards for a while now and reinvestment into Chesterfield town centre is important to us.

“We wanted to invest for the future, provide our staff with a better working environment and improve our client visitor experience.”

Growth and investment in people

The law firm has grown significantly since 2020, with further plans for expansion including a local staff recruitment drive. BRM is looking for the best legal talent in Chesterfield and promoting junior lawyer and apprenticeship schemes.

This recent strategy for growth has led to recruitment and structural change. The retirement of highly regarded practice manager Alison Tyson led to a full root and branch review of the internal business structure.

This resulted in the appointment of practice manager Clare Ashby, operations

manager Liz Hill, chief cashier Tim Davis, and marketing assistant Tania Holieva to sit alongside long-standing marketing and IT director Andrew Robinson.

Local recruits

Adrian Sheehan, executive director, said: “These Chesterfield recruits will provide BRM with the foundations of our next stage of growth, will provide our lawyers with a support network and enable them to work more efficiently. It shows our confidence in Chesterfield and the region as a place to do business.”

Part of Chesterfield

The BRM team prides itself on having strong local roots and supporting the needs of both businesses and individuals.

Executive director Paul Berresford explained: “We have been a constant presence on Saltergate in the heart of Chesterfield for 30 years [JM1] and this is a heritage we are proud of. The work we have done supporting local charities is something that the Private Client team is incredibly proud of.”

Charitable support

The business supports charities that share similar values to its own and that have a big impact on the surrounding area and provide services and support to the local communities. Organisations that it currently supports include Helen’s Trust and Blythe House, Macmillan Cancer Care Chesterfield and Ashgate Hospice.

Paul added: “We have noticed that individuals are becoming more aware of the need for a will, powers of attorney and estate planning and also the risks associated with non-solicitors carrying out legal work.

“Here at BRM we aim to make people feel comfortable and make sure they have their affairs in order,” he added.

Festival of Cricket

BRM also prides itself on being associated with major events in the region. It is giving headline sponsorship to Helen’s Trust and Blythe House, Chatsworth 10k and the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket. The BRM Solicitors Festival of cricket brings top class sport and thousands of people to Queens Park.

Rob Woodhead, executive director, commented: “The Chatsworth 10k and the Festival of Cricket are fantastic events to be associated with and play such an important role in the local sporting and fundraising calendar for Chesterfield.”

The Corporate team at BRM is led by executive director Sarah Rowland. “The Chesterfield business market has changed over the years and we have seen the relationship between business and lawyer change,” she explained.

Growing strategic partnerships

“Companies are looking for a strategic partnership with a legal provider to help guide them through the various stages of their business cycle. We have these partnerships with some of Chesterfield’s biggest businesses.”

The BRM team are also tirelessly raising the profile of the region with targeted events in which they are bringing the best professional talent in the region together. These include the Ladies in Business with Prince Family Law, HR Forums in partnership with East Midlands Chamber and the Young professional events.

Developing Chesterfield

Real Estate is at the core of the BRM offering with three directors and a well-regarded residential team.

Director and head of Chesterfield Real Estate Sanjeev Batra said: “In recent years Chesterfield and North Derbyshire has seen huge growth in the retail, hospitality and housing sectors.

“This represents an exciting opportunity for expanding businesses. The area has great access to transport links and is perfectly situated for logistics and storage businesses.”

The real estate team services a wide range of residential and commercial developer clients and is proud to advise them as they have grown locally and regionally.

Advice for home buyers and sellers

The practice also advises various local residential developers in site acquisitions and onward plot sales but is also there for its loyal home buyers and sellers.

Stuart Taphouse, head of residential conveyancing, said: “We are seeing a large amount of repeat business with clients coming back two or three times as they move from home to home.

“We pride ourselves on an incredibly high service level and focus on communication and we have found that if this is consistent, clients remain happy.”

Find out more at https://www.brmlaw.co.uk/