Go-ahead lawyers at a fast-growing North Wales legal firm have scooped a coveted prize in a major national competition.
Swayne Johnson, who have a base in St Asaph and six offices from Menai Bridge on Anglesey to Tattenhall, near Chester, have been named North Wales’s Best Full Service Law Firm at the SME 2020 Awards.
The firm is one of the oldest in Wales but also one of the most innovative, pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in will writing and family law and investing heavily in IT.
Only 12 years ago it had just two offices, in St Asaph and Denbigh but since then it has rapidly expanded and now has offices in Menai Bridge, Llandudno, St Asaph, Denbigh, Ruthin and Tattenhall.
Director Lynette Viney-Passig, Head of the growing Private Client department, said: “We are thrilled to have received this major award – it’s a tribute to our fantastic people and to the quality of service they provide for our clients”.
“I believe this award is recognises the breadth of our services and the expertise we have in just about every aspect of the law.”
“Having offices across North Wales and in Cheshire means we have a wide geographic spread, but our team-based structure means that every member of staff works within a small team within which everyone supports and encourages each other”.
“We firmly believe in career development and promoting from within. We have clear pathways which support internal progression and a strong company commitment to training.”
Swayne Johnson has two of Wales’s three Court of Protection deputies – dealing with the financial affairs of those people who no longer have the mental capacity to do so themselves.
They have the largest Private Client department in North Wales and a strong reputation for their expertise in this area. Equally, they have teams of experts in family law, property and commercial.
Their breadth of expertise also extends to agricultural law, ecclesiastical law, civil litigation and charities. They advise and manage many charitable trusts distributing thousands of pounds each year to organisations as varied as Chester Zoo, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, a gardening and allotment project in Ruthin and a dog rescue charity in Mold.
A spokesperson for the SME 2020 judges said: “We were very impressed by the breadth of expertise shown by Swayne Johnson and by their innovative approach to making their comprehensive services available to their clients in these difficult times.
“Their success is shown by the way they have grown their business while still remaining very much at the heart of the communities in which they work.”
Managing Director Sarah Noton said: “I couldn’t be more proud Our people work diligently to deliver the best service to clients.
“My co-directors and I know that we have the best people – it’s fantastic that the judges of this prestigious award agree, and they get the recognition they deserve.
“The firm’s roots can be traced back to the 1840s and we’re proud of our heritage but equally we’re not afraid to innovate. We’ve recently invested heavily in IT which has and will continue to assist us in driving up efficiency and to deliver the best client experience”
“In 2018, the Board of Directors of Swayne Johnson Solicitors set up Swayne Johnson Wealth Management – another company that enable us to introduce our clients to expert financial advice. I believe that we are the first firm in North Wales to have a financial services arm to the business”.
“In 2019, the directors set up Swayne Johnson Charitable Trust through which we are fundraising to benefit local charities, clubs, groups and organizations within our communities.”
“Our award is a recognition of our brilliant people, the quality of our service to clients and our ability to innovate and secure the future of this firm for many, many years to come!”
For more on Swayne Johnson go to http://www.swaynejohnson.com/
