A FAST-GROWING Yorkshire law firm has completed a deal which takes it to more than 70 staff and a £3.7m turnover.

Newtons Solicitors Group, founded by husband-and-wife directors Chris and Sarah Newton in 2009, has opened its ninth office with the acquisition of long-established Stokesley solicitorsThorp Parker LLP.

The acquisition, negotiated with Thorp Parker principals, Richard Parker and Paula Warburton, will see the Stokesley practice become Thorp Parker Newtons but continue to operate from Martin House, its High Street premises.

Thorp Parker opened in 1978 and has a £700,000 turnover. It currently offers commercial and company law, property law, trusts, wills and probate, through a team of four solicitors, which includes Bernadette Sullivan and Martin Donnelly.

Following the acquisition, Richard Parker and Paula Warburton are joined by Christopher Newton as an LLP Member at Thorp Parker Newtons and the practice will start to offer additional services, including litigation and family law.

Mr Parker said: "Our access to Newtons’ extra resources will help us to cope with the high volume of work we are dealing with and to develop Thorp Parker further. We very much look forward to working within the Newtons Solicitors Group.”

Newtons 70 staff include 15 LLP members and directors and 44 lawyers at offices in Knaresborough, Harrogate, Ripon, York, Leyburn, Richmond, Darlington, Stokesley and Ilkley .