Appointments cap year of expansion for law firm

QualitySolicitors Talbots, which has seven offices across the Black Country and Worcestershire, has taken on Emma Cromarty and Rachel Pardoe as HR manager and practice director respectively.

The experienced duo have been brought in to help manage a 20 per cent growth in turnover, with more than £50m of corporate deals completed in 2014.

There have also been the first signs of the property market returning after the residential team recorded a 46% rise in transactions.

"We've had a really encouraging last 12 months and now employ more than 180 staff across our network of offices in Codsall, Dudley, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Stourport and Wolverhampton," explained director Martyn Morgan.

"This growth needs to be managed effectively and to ensure we have the right infrastructure in place to deliver a personal service and quality legal advice we decided to bolster the team with a new HR manager and a practice director."

He continued: "Both Rachel and Emma bring significant experience in their specialist fields and have new ideas on how they can make us more efficient and improve our approach to recruitment.

"They'll also free up the other directors so they can concentrate on what they do best."

Rachel Pardoe joins QualitySolicitors Talbots after spending seven years as practice manager at Worcestershire law firm Thursfields.

Here she was responsible for proactive leadership of the practice, strategic business planning and, by working in partnership with the heads of the legal departments, increasing fee income and profitability.

"This is a very exciting time for QualitySolicitors Talbots and my role will be to co-ordinate operations across our seven offices and 180 staff," said Rachel, who has also held senior positions in the medical and leisure sectors.

"There's a number of new processes I'm keen to introduce that will get the best out of all of our different teams and ensure we are able to take advantage of further organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

"I'll also be looking to get involved in some of our corporate social responsibility activities, a part of business that I really enjoy and value."

New HR manager Emma Cromarty brings a wealth of talent management, employee engagement and recruitment experience to QualitySolicitors Talbots.

, a former University of Wolverhampton graduate, is looking to increase staff retention and establish the company as one of the most sought after legal firms to work for: "I've been involved in HR for more than 12 years, predominantly in manufacturing and engineering businesses so will hopefully bring a fresh pair of eyes and lots of new ideas to the legal sector.

"After a hugely successful 2014, we are looking to grow again in the coming year and finding people that have the legal skills and right personalities will be one of my first challenges."

"I was very impressed with the culture of the company and its desire to grow by embracing traditional Black Country values of being 'down to earth', 'friendly' and 'hard working'.

QualitySolicitors Talbots, which will turnover £7.5m this year, has also invested over £200,000 in new software to assist lawyers in speeding up processes, communications and delivery of documents.

The next phase will involve automated messages and a secure on-line documentation lounge to provide an even better customer journey.