Member Article

North Yorkshire solicitors eye expansion with Ripon practice acquisition

North Yorkshire based law firm Coles Solicitors has expanded its presence into Ripon with the acquisition of an established practice in the city.

The firm, which launched in 2007, has acquired Tunnard & Co, making Ripon its seventh location in addition to sites in York, Thirsk, Northallerton, Yarm, Guisborough and Settle.

Tunnard & Co, which was established in 1986, has two offices in Ripon at Duck Hill and Kirkgate and employs six people.

Both offices are included in the takeover deal and all staff members will join Coles, while several existing Coles employees will relocate to Ripon to bolster the range of services offered in the city.

Peter Gibson, managing director of Coles Solicitors, said: “Ripon is a key location for Coles in terms of bridging the distance between our offices in the east of North Yorkshire with Settle in the west of the county.

“Coles in Ripon will bring a wider range of services to people in the city and beyond and secure jobs for the current Tunnard staff.

“Our ongoing success can be attributed to our robust business model coupled with a commitment to maintaining a strong sense of heritage and belonging in our respective business communities.”

Chris Tunnard, who originally worked at the Ripon branch of Harrogate based Kirby’s Solicitors before taking it over to create Tunnard & Co in 1986, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity of joining Coles which has a growing reputation across North Yorkshire and the North East.

“I am confident that our existing customers will be well served by the existing and new staff.”

Coles Solicitors’ range of services includes conveyancing, wills and probate, accident claims and family work including divorce.

Through its Ripon office it can also now offer advice on ecclesiastical law since Chris Tunnard and his long-serving colleague Nicola Harding are joint registrars for the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds.

Although Coles Solicitors has been trading in its current form for seven years, the Coles brand name has been in existence within the legal sector since 1965.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .