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Brethertons: Gearing up for growth in Bicester


Brethertons Solicitors has a centuries-old heritage, but its success as an award- winning regional law firm is firmly rooted in a forward-looking mindset and community-conscious culture, plus a talented legal team containing notable Legal 500 and Chambers UK-listed practitioners


Brethertons is now looking forward to a fresh era of community involvement in one of Europe’s fastest growing towns – Bicester.


It will open its brand new office in Bicester’s developing town centre at the end of this month (April 23-24) – tangible evidence that Brethertons is also gearing up for growth, writes John Burbedge.


Fittingly, Brethertons' new Bicester premises are next door to the local Cherwell District Council offices. Brethertons has always operated as a professional legal services provider and integral part of its local community. In its formative days in Rugby, Brethertons’ founders were instrumental in helping to establish public health and utility services in the town.


“Bicester’s future as a major new community with eco-town credentials has great opportunities for us as a firm and we fully expect to grow our presence within the local area,” said Steven Neasham, managing partner and head of property law at Brethertons’ Bicester office.


“Through our marketing department we will reach out


Bicester is already growing fast


Fittingly, with the firm’s forward-looking focus, the new Brethertons office is within the current phased development area of Bicester town centre – at the centre of progress in the region.


“Bicester has a very wide and interesting range of new developments,” states Steven Neasham.


• NW Bicester: the UK’s first new eco-town. First phase properties currently on sale. Part of the long-term vision of 6,000 sustainable new homes north-west of Bicester.


• Bicester Heritage: the UK’s first park for restoration, storage and enjoyment of vintage and classic vehicles and planes, with eclectic commercial tenants on ex-RAF Bicester airfield.


• The Garden Quarter, Caversfield: sensitively converted Grade II-listed cottages and apartments,


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plus new-build homes within historic 23-acre parkland.


• Kingsmere Estate, a major residential homes development south-west of Bicester.


• Bicester Hotel, Conference, Golf and Spa complex at Chesterton.


• Bicester Retail Village – an established, popular and expanding designer outlet-shopping venue.


• A new business park near Bicester Village.


• Bicester Village train station, completely rebuilt as part of Chiltern Railway’s new £130m Oxford to London Marylebone link, with improved service frequency.


• Graven Hill: former MoD site south of Bicester, the UK’s first and largest self-build development opportunity.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2016 Brethertons new Bicester office


further to the companies around here, involving them in webinars, and relevant activities such as the Bicester Business Lunch Club that we host, which is a central networking event in the area.”


Neasham and Bicester partner Sally Clark, a family law specialist, are not new to the locality. They established the Neasham Lloyd firm as a thriving Bicester legal practice in the mid-1990s before making a strategic merger in 2012 with Brethertons (with 240 staff and offices in Banbury, Rugby, and London).


Many of the 23 staff making the move this month to the modern open-plan Bicester office have long-standing community links with the town.


The merger was a good jigsaw fit, combining Neasham Lloyd’s strong property, conveyancing and private client workbook with Brethertons' wider skills-base, encompassing notably litigation, debt recovery, employment law and international child abduction.


The merger was also an astute business move enabling the combined practice to provide greater scope and an expansion of legal services to the proposed ‘Bicester Garden Town’ development of 13,000 homes, 21,500 jobs and supporting infrastructure, later announced by the department for communities and local government and Cherwell DC.


Brethertons' new premises has Steven Neasham


ample room for expansion. “In our new office we will have the space to develop our existing strengths and increase practice work within the company commercial legal services and employment fields,” said Neasham.


The firm has also taken the opportunity of the move to upgrade some of its technology and administrative systems. “We are utilising technology to improve our services to clients, but at the same time ensuring that we maintain our focus on the value of face-to-face, close and trusted client relationships.”


Brethertons aims at controlled sustainable growth – evidenced by a steadily rising fee income in the past five years – and provides programmed training and development for all staff. “Our HR team is very strong on individual wellbeing, performance and career progression through internal training, webinars and development programmes.”


The firm has Investors in People gold status and was a 2014 Oxfordshire Business Awards winner.


Brethertons today is a community- focused legal services firm with significant niche specialisms, and a proven experienced team in Bicester with the capacity for significant organic growth.


Details: Steven Neasham 01869-255670 stevenneasham@brethertons.co.uk www.brethertons.co.uk


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