Established 1994 · Manchester and remote
Clear advice. Fixed fees where we can. No surprises.
Live demo of the Law Firm template
Practice areas
What we do
A small firm that says no to work outside these six areas — so we're genuinely good at them.
- Fixed fee from £450
Employment
Contracts, dismissals, settlement agreements and tribunal claims, for employees and small employers.
- Fixed fee from £950
Residential property
Sales, purchases, remortgages and lease extensions. Weekly progress updates without you asking.
- From £250 / hour
Family
Divorce, finances and children arrangements. We favour mediation and say so when court is the wrong route.
- Wills from £220
Wills, trusts and probate
Straightforward wills to complex estates. Fixed fees for wills and lasting powers of attorney.
- From £220 / hour
Small business
Formation, shareholder agreements, commercial leases, terms of business and disputes.
- Assessment £350
Disputes
Contract, property and neighbour disputes. A frank early assessment of your chances — in writing.
About the firm
Thirty years, one office, most of the same clients.
We were founded in 1994 by two solicitors who wanted to practise law without the billing culture of the firms they'd left. We've grown to eight lawyers and kept that promise: you know what it will cost before we start, you get the same person throughout, and we return calls the same day.
Around half of our work comes from existing clients and people they've sent to us. We'd like to keep it that way.
- 1994
- Founded
- 8
- Solicitors
- ~50%
- Clients from referrals
People
Who you'll work with
Margaret Ellison
Senior partner · Property, wills and probate
Co-founded the firm. Still handles every probate matter personally.
David Okonjo
Partner · Employment and disputes
Former in-house counsel at a national retailer. Knows what the other side's lawyer is thinking.
Sarah Whitcombe
Partner · Family
Accredited mediator. Resolves the majority of her cases without a hearing.
James Farrell
Associate · Small business
Joined 2020. Runs the fixed-fee company formation and contracts service.
How we work
Four promises
A price before we start
Fixed fee wherever the work allows. Where it doesn't, a written estimate and a cap you agree to.
One lawyer, start to finish
You won't be passed to a trainee after the first meeting. If your lawyer is away, you'll know who's covering and why.
Same-day replies
Calls and emails answered the same working day, even if the answer is 'I'll have a full reply on Thursday'.
Honest odds
If we think you shouldn't proceed, we'll say so — in writing, at the first meeting, before you've spent much.
Clients
“They told me at the first meeting my case was weak and what it would cost to find out for sure. We settled in six weeks for less than I expected to spend.”
R. Patel — Employment client
“Third house purchase with Margaret. She's the reason we haven't tried anyone else.”
The Hendersons — Property clients since 2009
“Sarah kept two angry people talking long enough to agree. Our kids never saw a courtroom.”
Anonymous — Family client
Working with us
From first call to finished
- 01
A short call
Fifteen minutes, free, to understand the problem and tell you whether we're the right firm.
- 02
Initial consultation
Up to an hour with the right lawyer. You leave with a written summary of options, likely outcomes and a fee proposal.
- 03
Engagement
A plain-English client care letter setting out scope, price and timescales. Nothing starts until you've signed it.
- 04
The work
Regular updates on a schedule we agree. Every invoice matches the estimate or explains exactly why not.
FAQ
Before you get in touch
Is the first call really free?
Yes. Fifteen minutes to understand your situation and tell you honestly whether we can help. There's no obligation and we won't chase you afterwards.
Do you offer legal aid?
No. We can point you to firms and charities that do, and we'll tell you if you're likely to qualify.
Can everything be done remotely?
Almost everything — video meetings, e-signatures and a secure client portal. Some documents, like wills, still need a wet signature and a witness; we'll arrange it.
How do fixed fees work?
The fee covers everything described in your client care letter. If something genuinely outside the scope comes up, we stop and agree a price for it before doing any more work.
Contact
Talk to us
Phone
+44 161 000 0000Office
3rd Floor, 22 King Street, Manchester M2 6AG
Hours
Mon–Fri 09:00–17:30
Consultation
Request a consultation
Tell us briefly what's happened. A solicitor — not a call centre — will phone you within one working day. Everything you send is confidential.