Ison Harrison makes first acquisition outside Yorkshire heartland

Employee-owned firm Ison Harrison has acquired long-established North West firm solicitors Dootsons - its first major acquisition outside Ison's Yorkshire heartland in its 48-year history.

The deal adds three high street offices across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside to Ison Harrison’s growing network. Coupled with the opening of its Manchester city centre base at No.1 Spinningfields last month, the acquisition takes the firm’s total footprint to 30 branches across Yorkshire and the North West.

The acquisition pushes total headcount across the business to 500 and brings annual turnover to £42 million. All 27 fee earners and staff at Dootsons are joining Ison Harrison, including managing partner Andrew Stockton, maintaining day-to-day continuity for clients across core practice areas, including residential property, wills and probate, commercial, and family law.

Dootsons, founded in 1897, serves high streets across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, with offices in Leigh, Culcheth and Newton-le-Willows. The firm said that local office operations, client management, and existing partnerships, including local sports club sponsorships, will continue uninterrupted under the Ison Harrison brand. 

The acquisition marks the latest expansion by Ison Harrison, which became one of the UK’s first 100% employee-owned law firms in 2022. It last year acquired the personal injury firm Armstrong Luty Solicitors, based in Skipton.

Jonathan Wearing, managing director, said: 'Expanding our footprint in the North West, hot on the heels of establishing a presence in Manchester, is a statement of the intent of our growth plans beyond our traditional heartland. Our strategy remains unchanged: providing high-quality, local legal support right in the heart of local communities. Acquiring a firm of Dootsons calibre and reputation enables us to build quickly following our arrival in Manchester.

'Our expansion is entirely employee-driven. As a 100% employee-owned firm, every member of our team has a real stake in the business. That model fosters a client-first mindset and gives us the stability to invest in respected high-street firms that share our community values.'

Andrew Stockton, Dootsons managing partner, said: 'Over 125 years, Dootsons has built a reputation for trusted legal advice, personal service and long-standing relationships with clients across the communities we serve. Joining Ison Harrison gives us the opportunity to protect that heritage while ensuring the practice is well placed for the future, with the backing of a £42m regional firm.'

Ison Harrison now employs more than 500 people across Yorkshire and the North West.