2024: Another Year Bigger, Bolder, Better at Hugh James

As the year draws to a close, I take pride in celebrating another year of growth, innovation, and impact at Hugh James. Our achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients, running a progressive and ambitious business, and fostering a culture where our people and communities thrive.

Here’s a look back at 2024 through the lens of our five-year Bigger, Bolder, Better strategy.

The work we do

Our mission is to protect what matters most to individuals, businesses, and communities. This year has been no exception.

In 2024, our lawyers secured landmark legal victories opening the doors to justice for our clients and wider communities. One of the most notable achievements was the settlement with the Ministry of Defence, ensuring armed forces personnel can now claim compensation for hearing loss. This agreement represents a historic step forward in recognising duty of care and reflects our dedication to advocating for those who serve our country. Our experts also achieved a decisive victory for our client Why Not Bar & Lounge Ltd in the Covid-19 business interruption test case. This outcome provided vital clarity and financial relief for hospitality businesses across the UK.

Throughout the year, our people and teams delivered award-winning services that transformed outcomes for our clients. Recognition included Court of Protection Team of the Year and Private Client Firm of the Year (Large) at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2024, and “Highly Commended” in the Spear’s Tax & Trusts Index, 2024. Serious injury lawyer Gill Edwards was named Northern Powerhouse Insurance Lawyer of the Year 2024 and co-founder of Potter Rees Dolan Hugh Potter called time on his successful career with a much-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.

These awards highlight the quality of service our clients can expect, while our improved Band 1 rankings for clinical negligence and serious injury in the 2024 legal directories underscore our expertise and growth across the UK within complex and sensitive areas.

We continued to support the growth and success of businesses nationwide across our core business areas. Our corporate commercial team had another exceptional year of deal-making, securing over 30 major transactions that helped clients achieve their strategic goals, expand operations, and unlock new opportunities. In the banking sector, we played a critical role in supporting the hospitality industry, with our client Metro Bank facilitating a rescue deal for TGI Fridays, ensuring the business could move forward confidently.

Our employment team provided expert guidance to businesses navigating significant legislative changes, including the Employment Rights Bill and Worker Protection Act 2023, helping them adapt to modern workplace practices. Meanwhile, our construction team reached new heights, acting as lead advisors for Principality Stadium’s skyline tourist attraction, an ambitious project that positions the venue as a world-class destination.

We secured nine key competitive tenders, including framework and panel appointments across sectors such as social housing, sport, and real estate finance. These successes demonstrate how we help businesses and organisations deliver on their long-term objectives. Notably, our appointment to Great Places Housing Group’s £10 million legal services framework highlights our growing reputation across the UK.

Recognising the evolving needs of our clients, we launched a new Environmental and Planning team, led by Alex Madden, to deliver sustainable solutions in key growth areas such as energy, agriculture, and real estate. This service strengthens our ability to help businesses navigate environmental challenges while identifying opportunities for future success.

The business we run

Also this year, we unveiled a refreshed brand identity designed to reflect the modern, dynamic firm we are today while honouring our rich heritage. Throughout the process, our core purpose and values as a thriving, full-service UK law firm were enhanced following extensive consultations with our staff.

We welcomed new talent to the firm, including Alex Madden, Harriet Morgan, and Claire Tait, who bring extensive expertise to our business division, alongside Matthew D Evans, Christine Bunting, Kelly Knight, and Siobhan Thomas, who enhance our individual client services. The acquisition of The Roland Partnership also marked a key milestone, bolstering our serious injury expertise and expanding our reach in the Northwest.

We rewarded home-grown talent, with 31 promotions across the business, and the introduction of the new Legal Director role. These milestones reflect our commitment to nurturing potential and building a diverse and inclusive workforce. Notably, over half of our partnership is now female, underscoring our dedication to creating a culture of fairness and equality.

Our future-focused approach extends to the next generation of legal professionals. We have welcomed our largest-ever cohort of trainee solicitors, including trainees in Manchester for the first time. Our Training Contract Plus scheme follows a range of student initiatives such as the pro-bono scheme, gap-year and summer placement, reaching 1000+ aspiring lawyers, many who are progressing in their careers with the firm today.

The culture we want

We believe that our people and our culture are the foundation of our firm’s success. This year, our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and employee development took centre stage.

We were honoured to receive the DE&I Change Maker Award from NatWest Cymru Board, recognising the impact of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. These efforts included the growth of our employee-led networks, the sharing of 49 stories on cultural inclusion and wellbeing, and 12 impactful events such as World AIDS Awareness Day and Pride in Cardiff.

Our HJ Potential employee development programme sprouted new projects; international secondments, and mentoring and coaching opportunities to support career progression. The initiatives were complemented by 403 learning sessions delivered by our in-house learning and development team, which saw over 6,500 engagements across the firm.

Beyond our internal culture, we have continued to support the communities we serve. In 2024, we hosted 265 events, bringing together businesses, public sector partners, and individuals across a range of industries. Highlights included our first Trauma Conference in Manchester and our record-breaking Rugby Lunch Fundraiser for Ty Hafan and Velindre. Our fantastic staff right across the firm enhance our ongoing support for initiatives such as Long Course Weekend Wales, the Cardiff Rugby Foundation and Finishing the Dream, to name just a few.

It’s clear that this has been a year of growth, achievement, and meaningful impact for our clients, our people, and the communities we serve. Next year marks 65 years since Hugh James was founded, a milestone that reminds us of the values and vision that have shaped our journey so far. As we look to the future, guided by our Bigger, Bolder, Better strategy, we are in great shape to build on this legacy and deliver even greater results in 2025 and beyond.