Solicitors will stay faithful to town of their birth

Nov 12 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

ONE of the North East’s oldest legal practices has pledged its future to the town where it was established more than 130 years ago – despite being frustrated in its search for new headquarters.

Punch Robson Solicitors has had an office in Middlesbrough since 1877, but for several years has been actively seeking a move from its five-storey offices in Albert Road to a more suitable town centre location.

Partner Stewart Williamson said: “We moved on to this site in 1898 and the current offices have served us well since the late-1960s.

“However, Punch Robson has grown significantly in the past 20 years or so, and the offices are simply not configured in a style that meets the needs of a modern legal practice.”

Punch Robson, a general legal practice, employs more than 70 people, including 20 solicitors and 12 partners.

Last year, it acquired business law specialists Spooner & Co in a move that significantly increased the size of its commercial law division.

And while the bulk of its business is based in Middlesbrough, Punch Robson has in recent years opened offices in Coulby Newham and Ingleby Barwick to serve the fast-growing residential communities.

Mr Williamson said Punch Robson’s fruitless search was due to the lack of the right kind of office development in the right location.

He said: “Developers, perhaps understandably, are reluctant in the current climate to spend money on speculative office developments. Where they have, the proposed rents are too high, and where the rent is reasonable, there always seems to be issues with access, parking or other important considerations. We are being frustrated at every corner.

“The message we want to send out is that Punch Robson, a legal practice in Middlesbrough for 131 years, remains totally committed to its historical home where it hopes to continue growing and providing the people and businesses of Teesside with the highest standard of legal services.”