Family-run Liverpool law firm Glenville Walker projects 38% increase in annual revenues after implementing a new strategy and launching a new department. Tony McDonough reports

Family-run Liverpool law firm Glenville Walker is on course for revenue growth of 38% after taking on new board members and launching a litigation and dispute resolution department.

Thanks to these changes and a review of its strategy the firm, based at Brunswick Business Park, has seen fee income rise from 2022 to 2023 and it is now projecting a 38% leap for the current financial year.

Glenville Walker was founded in 2017 by managing partner Denise Walker, alongside her daughter, director and chief executive, Hazel Walker. 

It specialises in corporate, litigation, dispute resolution, commercial and residential property, and advises SME businesses of different sizes and specialisms across the UK.

For the first five years the duo put their efforts into building a portfolio of clients, winning new business and investing in talent to build a team of 18 legal experts.

It was at this point that Hazel, Denise and the senior management team realised that to keep growing successfully, they needed to put more robust plans in place to cope with increasing demand.

They also wanted to ensure a clear succession plan was in place, by building a strong management board to help steer future development strategies for the firm.

Hazel decided to enrol on a 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course delivered by the University of Liverpool’s Management School, recipient of the Small Business Charter accreditation that recognises institutions that support small business.

This course is designed to help business leaders and senior managers increase resilience, innovation and growth.

It gave Hazel the skills needed to implement a robust succession plan and enhance the firm’s business strategy. She also learned how to effectively communicate, guide, and manage expectations of the senior management team.

This resulted in the appointment of two new board members – a vital part of the new succession plan – and the launch of a litigation and dispute resolution department.

This additional service has opened a new revenue stream for the firm and enabled it to increase its range of services so that it can now provide a one-stop-shop of specialist business advice to clients.

Hazel said: “Denise worked at one of the region’s most prominent law firms for 27 years, so growing up, I was familiar with the legal sector and we thought it would be great to combine her legal expertise and my business acumen.

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“We wanted to break the mould of traditional legal practice. That is why we designed the firm to act as an extension of our clients’ in-house teams. While growth has always been on the agenda, we wish to stay in the SME market to allow us to remain in-tune with our loyal clients.

“Our main objective is to continue to add to our specialist services for the benefit of our clients’ experience and to target new markets.”