North West law firm JMW Solicitors has seen half-year revenues surge 36% to £32.5m and its Liverpool family law team led by Beverley Jones has played a key role. Tony McDonough reports

A Liverpool-based team of family lawyers led by one of the region’s leading specialists has played a key role in a surge in revenues at North West law firm JMW Solicitors.

In the six months to October 31, Manchester-based JMW says revenues have soared 36%, or by £8.5m, to £32.5m. Its family law team has been one of the biggest drivers of growth, billed £4.1m between May and October, a 32% increase.

JMW’s nine-strong team of family lawyers in Liverpool have been instrumental in its growth over the past six months. They are led by Beverley Jones who in April became a full equity partner at the practice.

She established her reputation in family law while at Liverpool firm DWF. She became an associate at the St Paul’s Square firm in 2012 and became head of the family department in 2013, later being made a partner.

However, in 2018 the entire family law team at DWF jumped ship to join Manchester-based JMW. Wirral-born Ms Jones headed up the firm’s newly-established Liverpool operation, initially running a six-strong team.

Beverley specialises in high net worth financial matters together with complicated children matters and surrogacy cases.  She is currently ranked in Band 1 in legal directory Chambers 2021 in Liverpool.

It states: “Beverley has excellent analytical skills and is able to identify relevant issues and summarise them in a direct and concise way.” JMW’s Family law team in Manchester and Liverpool are ranked in Band 1 in Chambers and Partners 2021 and Tier 1 in Legal 500.

JMW is now on track to exceed its revenue target for 2021/22 of £61m and is likely to reach £65m in revenue. As well as Beverley, two other family law lawyers were promoted to equity partner in April. They are Elspeth Kinder and Michael Chapman.

Joy Kingsley, senior partner at JMW, said: “Our six-month financial results show that our strategy of providing a full service to our clients and the continuation of lateral hires of those individuals who wish to bring their clients to JMW, has been very successful for us.

“We have enjoyed substantial growth over recent years and the success we continue to enjoy is achieved by the hard work of all our partners and staff. The pandemic has been a difficult time for all but after a good year last year despite early problems, this half year has been even better than predicted.”