Our Journey in our Fourth Year at Bexley Beaumont

The festive period is always a good time for reflection. As we bid farewell to 2023 and our fourth year, I have enjoyed taking a moment to look back at what has been a great year for growth at Bexley Beaumont. This could not have been possible without so many people so put simply thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to support the Bexley Beaumont journey. “A team is not a group of people who work together, a team is a group of people who trust each other” – this year in so many ways has shown the brilliance of a team culture and environment.

These efforts this year have been validated within the industry gaining recognition at a number of prestigious awards. Most notably we are thrilled to have been named Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the Inaugural Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards, as well as reaching the shortlist for Alternative Legal Service Provider of the Year at the British Legal Awards and being named a finalist in Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.

The profile of the firm and the lawyers continues to gain traction, it’s great to see a number of Bexley Beaumont lawyers regularly providing commentary pieces in the nationals and trade magazines and publications.

Strengthening the team, particularly in new geographical regions across the UK was a focus for us in 2023. We have welcomed 21 lawyers this year and significantly strengthened our London and Midlands teams as well as diversifying our range of practice areas providing a greater client offering. We have also welcomed associates and trainees showcasing that our different offering at Bexley Beaumont is attractive to all. We have launched a Private Wealth Team which now consists of 6 partners and is receiving great praise from clients for their holistic and collaborative approach.

This year also marked a significant increase in our social and events programme, both large and small events, virtual and in person across the UK. Such an important part of our culture, creating opportunities to bring the team together. We have hosted over 60 events this year; we have had firm-wide events at Marco Pierre White’s in Birmingham and King’s Street Townhouse in Manchester, as well as smaller lunches, brunches, and dinners, CEO monthly updates, guest speaker sessions, chocolate tasting, cheese tasting, fundraising and charity initiatives, practice area get-togethers….the list continues! The programme for 2025 is already in print and in addition it includes new initiatives such as BBElevate, our new skills development programme and BBCollaborate, a series of events where these newly developed skills can be put to the test.

We have always maintained that our CSR commitments will grow as we grow, so as I look back, the activities we have undertaken this year really do reflect the growth. Our fitness challenge for Mind Mental health in January where we surpassed 2023km cumulatively as a business; when we abseiled 170ft down the Trafford palazzo in support of Wood Street Mission or our volunteering days at Ecobirmingham; the Together Trust and Sow the City. We also continue to support the World Land Trust by making a donation to save 600 square metres of land each time a recruitment consultant places a partner with us. Our commitment to CSR is woven into the fabric of Bexley Beaumont, which is why I am so thrilled to say that we will be launching the BBFoundation in 2024, a CIO where we and our partners can give back to the community.

As the business matures into our fifth year, we also need to mature our vision and values to fit the firm, as we begin to adapt the strategic values of the business to align with our growth. Our mission remains “To change the future of law,” and our vision is to become the boutique law firm of choice for top talent, with our new values consisting of collaboration, excellence, empowerment, enjoyment, integrity, and passion. We believe by upholding these values that this will cement our position as the firm of choice for top talent, in turn serving as a base for us to be part of the change in the industry.

Launching and growing any business certainly has its moments and challenges. A positive mindset, a good dose of resilience (and humour!) and most importantly a fantastic first -class team and amazing supporters are what makes the difference. We have matured and grown all areas of Bexley Beaumont this year and I am looking forward to continuing with the journey in 2024 to see what we can further achieve together. New, exciting, and of course ambitious projects to do more, to give more and to support more are on the horizon. Thank you everyone. In the meantime, it’s time for a rest! I wish you and your families a wonderful and relaxing Christmas period and a happy and prosperous new year!