A LAW firm run by two brothers has been acquired by husband-andwife legal team Chris and Sarah Newton.

Newtons Solicitors has 27 staff in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and York and expects its fee income to reach £1.2m this financial year.

Hodgsons & Mortimer has offices in Darlington and Richmond. Brothers Nick and Richard Hodgson founded the business in 1995 and now have 15 staff and a £700,000 turnover.

Both will remain with the firm for a three-year “earn-out” period while it trades as a separate business until a new integration and growth strategy is put in place by a new management team.

Mr and Mrs Newton founded their company in 2009 and were attracted to Hodgsons & Mortimer by its geographical spread, its professional panel memberships, and the fact that it has a similar business and private client base to Newtons.

Mr Newton, managing director, said: “For the time being, we intend to run the two law firms separately, while allying systems and processes.

“There are tax and practical benefits from having two separately-regulated law firms but, in time, it would be great to have a single Newtons brand across the region.

“Hodgson & Mortimer is a good and profitable business with a loyal client base. We are giving Nick and Richard a good succession plan while they are giving us a solid foot hold from which to develop our practice in the north of our region.

As a group, I can see the path to an annual £3m turnover but my medium term aim is to reach £5m.”

Nick Hodgson said: “As Richard and I start to think about retirement it is great to see such enthusiasm for the profession as is shown by Chris and Sarah and we are pleased to be part of the growing Newtons Solicitors group.”