2015 Legal Awards

M&A awards Legal Awards 2015 25 LEGAL awards The firm also have a specialised private client department to help with wills and probate matters for high net worth individuals with assets in multiple jurisdictions. Their litigation team can step in at any time for clients who need help with contentious issues. “The legal industry in our region is thriving” says the firm’s Aaron Menuhin when asked about his views on the state of the legal industry in the UK and the major challenges it currently faces as well as major external influ- ence factors. “Although many of the low cost service providers are entering the market we have found that by providing a high quality service within deadlines we are able to keep clients satisfied. People want to be able to come in to the office a speak to someone they trust. When someone comes to the law they need to know the person they speak to will have their best interest at heart. Clients need to be able to trust their solicitor and build a long terms relationship on that trust” he goes on to explain. For company to become truly successful and be able to provide the best possible service to its clients, “A firm should always put the client first and be good at problem solving” he says before explaining that his overriding philosophy to areas such as client service and the acquisition of new business “is to put the client first, offer peace of mind in all legal matters and exceed expectations.” Corporate law Fairhurst Menuhin and Co Ltd’s focus on corporate law comes from “the background of two of our partners who hold and MBA and an MSc in International Management respectively” Menuhin explains. “They have both had experience in business and can bring that experience to bear on the legal advice and solutions that are offered to our clients. At our firm we are able to speak French, German, Polish and Mandarin thus enabling us to advise an international client base” he adds. “The legal industry is an incredibly diverse and fast-paced place to do business. How do you ensure that your firm remains on the cutting edge of new developments and how do you ensure that you are always best placed to meet your clients’ needs? “We are always trying to improve our service. We are not perfect and where we fall short we regroup and es- tablish how to improve our offering. We listen to our clients and to their needs. The client is always best placed to tell us how to improve and how to remain competitive.” Measuring success, being competitive and client needs When asked what standards or criteria does he measure success, both with regards to individual clients or projects, or as a business as a whole Menuhin comments, “We measure our business according to the client feedback on particular matters and projects. When a client returns to use our services again we know we have done something right.” Working in such a competitive industry, differentiating their business from that of their competitors is done by placing “a lot of emphasis on the corporate image of the firm. We make sure we are the first to open and the last to close. We open on Saturdays and many of us will work on weekends and remain available to our clients in case of emergency” Menuhin outlines. Concerning clients, how does the firm balance quality and cost to ensure cthey receive the best possible ser- vice for a manageable price? “We are always sure to establish from the outset the client’s needs and the likely costs those needs will incur. It is always of matter of communication with the client and managing the costs together” Menuhin reveals. “The business relationships we build are the bedrock of our firm. A satisfied client will spread the word. There is no better marketing” Menuhin adds when asked about his dedication to forming relationships with his clients to help him build his business further. The future When it comes to choosing both staff and clients, “we only hire staff who agree with our standard of client service. When it comes to clients we try to be of service to anyone who requires it” Menuhin emphaises. As regards to the future, “we aim to expand regionally over the upcoming three years and then internationally with offices targeted at commercial and corporate services” Menuhin explains. “The challenges are those that come with a growing firm in terms of managing the recruitment process, maintaining staff satisfied and more importantly offering a seamless service to our clients” he concludes. Company: Fairhurst Menuhin and Co Ltd Name: Aaron Menuhin Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.fmc-solicitors.com Address: Thorn House, 11A Hill Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1EH Telephone: 01799 526 849