In the latest of our series of regional profiles, Catherine Baksi assesses the thriving legal market in Leeds


The birthplace of Marks & Spencer and ASDA and the home of Yorkshire Cricket Club’s Headingley HQ, Leeds is also host to the largest and arguably the most competitive UK legal market outside London.



Much of the growth in legal services in the city has been fuelled by ten major firms, some of which have roots in the local market dating back to the time of the Industrial Revolution. The region is dominated by the so-called ‘Big Six’ – Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper, Eversheds, Hammonds, Pinsent Masons and Walker Morris. Then come firms such as Cobbetts, Gordons, Irwin Mitchell and Lupton Fawcett. In addition, there are a plethora of other smaller firms, providing for the legal needs of all members of the community.



But what has made Leeds the legal powerhouse that it is? Part of the answer clearly lies in the city’s industrial past. Richard Stockdale, head of dispute resolution at Leeds-founded Brooke North, says: ‘Its proximity to centres of economic activity and industry meant that the city grew during the Industrial Revolution.’



Leeds always had a diverse economy, built on textiles, manufacturing, engineering, banking and insurance. Unlike other nearby towns or cities, it was not limited to one industry, so when the manufacturing base declined, Leeds was not left in the lurch.



‘There has always been a strong legal culture in the city, as lawyers were essential to support and facilitate the economy,’ adds Mr Stockdale, whose own firm was founded in the 1830s to serve wealthy entrepreneurs during the Industrial Revolution.



Through changing times, the Leeds economy has evolved and remained diverse. The growth of financial and business services, coupled with construction and property developments and urban regeneration projects, has ensured that the economy remains vibrant, Mr Stockdale says.



Ian Greenfield, managing partner at Hammonds, which started out in Bradford in 1887 but is now headquartered in Leeds, explains the key to the city’s success: ‘Rather than fall into the doldrums, the city has constantly reinvented itself.’



And one of the keys to the success of the legal profession here is that law firms have done the same, predicting the changes and adapting creatively to the changing needs of their clients, he says.



Stephen Hopkins, managing partner of Eversheds in Leeds, says the region was helped by the economic boom in the 1980s, when a number of plcs had their head offices in Leeds and there was a good deal of corporate activity.



‘At that time, there were a lot of visionary and entrepreneurial lawyers here who saw where the economy was going, had a clear vision of where they wanted to take the law, and put themselves in the right place to serve potential clients,’ he recalls.



Deborah Green, Yorkshire regional manager for the Law Society, observes: ‘There is a symbiosis between the legal and business community. Methods of business changed and so did the law firms – they have grown and evolved together.’



Mr Stockdale notes that Leeds benefits from being well placed in the country geographically – it is at the centre of major motorway networks, has good rail links connecting it to London, and it has its own airport, which means it is only two hours away from several major European cities.



In addition, says Mr Stockdale, it also has a branch of the Bank of England and a high level of specialist court provision, including a dedicated mercantile court, a chancery division, and a technology and construction court, with a high-quality judiciary. The infrastructure is here to support the economy, which makes Leeds a good place to do business, he suggests.



Another important point that seemingly cannot be ignored in contributing to the city’s prosperity is the ‘Yorkshire factor’.



Guy Lamb, partner at DLA Piper, says: ‘It’s hard not to stereotype about Yorkshire grit and the Yorkshire personality and approach, but it’s true. It’s a dynamic part of the world with an entrepreneurial spirit and a “can-do” attitude.’ And this approach, he says, is true of both the business and legal communities.



However, Nigel McClea, head of Pinsent Masons’ Leeds office, rejects the idea that success is all down to Yorkshire grit, pointing out that a significant percentage of people have come to Leeds from other parts of the country, notably London.


Meanwhile, Jeremy Shulman, a partner at Shulmans, set up in 1981 to serve small and medium-sized businesses, points to another important factor. ‘There is no sense of complacency – you are only as good as your last performance. And there is a strong sense of civic pride and a feeling that no one wants to let the side down.’

He continues: ‘Leeds enjoys a strong ethos of partnership working, which many in the legal community have bought into. We regularly get referrals from other local firms where there is a conflict of interest or where a firm does not specialise in a particular field that we practise in.’

This partnership mentality and spirit of co-operation has been enhanced by the launch earlier this year of a major marketing initiative – Leeds Legal – which has brought the local legal profession together to promote the city as a corporate legal centre of excellence on the national and international stage. The project has the backing of the local and national law societies, local businesses and many of the large local law firms.

Ms Green explains how it works: ‘The firms involved work together to win business for the city, then the gloves come off and the individual firms compete for the work.’

This works, Mr Shulman explains, because ‘there is huge competition in Leeds and competition breeds excellence, excellence breeds confidence, and confidence breeds the ability to share commercially’.

Mr McClea agrees: ‘There is huge competition here, but there is also the realisation that by being sophisticated and working together for a common aim, we will all do better.’

Looking to the future and in keeping with the city’s reputation for staying ahead of the game, Leeds Legal is planning a trip to China, taking lawyers from the city to see what can be done to further assist their clients with business interests in the east.

Jeremy Barnett, a barrister at St Paul’s Chambers, points to an exciting IT project being pioneered in the city with the support of the Leeds University: the Court 21 Project – the courtroom of the 21st century.

He explains: ‘It is a partnership to promote the use of technology for virtual hearings in civil and criminal litigation, to see how we can use emerging technology to support the trial process and promote IT-enabled dispute resolution.’

So Leeds, it would appear, offers top-class work for an impressive range of national and international clients, with the all-important work/life balance and good career progression within a friendly and highly co-operative community. It is a vibrant city with bustling bars and restaurants, and within 20 minutes of beautiful countryside.

Are there any downsides? This question stumps the practitioners. But Mr Lamb, clutching at straws, offers one: ‘There’s no John Lewis.’ But, he adds: ‘That is being rectified.’ And, in any event, the city already has Selfridges and Harvey Nicks.


‘And we’d like our football team, Leeds United (which was relegated two years ago) to be in the Premiership,’ he says. Which all goes to show that it’s not so grim up north.