Client Testimonials

We spent an outstanding couple of days with Andy.   It has helped with our cashflow, with profitability and interestingly clients have accepted a new process and approach to fees.  The profit per file will be up.  It was worth the time and effort and is the most useful session I’ve been on in years.

Paul Bennett, Bennett Briegal LLP

During the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic it became apparent that the bookkeeping and management accounts were potentially going to be problematic logistically.

Sharon was proactive in providing possible solutions in advance of our scheduled quarterly timetable and was available at several opportunities to test our preferred option of working remotely. Microsoft Teams proved to be invaluable in ensuring we could adapt to a rapidly changing working environment with relatively short notice. Armstrong Watson were instrumental in bringing about this change and ensuring, not only the work getting done on a timely basis but also, staff safety being prioritised.

Karen Walsh, Director, Paramount Legal Costs Limited

Following conversion to LLP/ABS and putting in place succession plans we felt it was important that we partner with accountants with deep knowledge and experience of the legal sector to support our future strategy. We found this in abundance at Armstrong Watson and following a delightfully smooth transition we are already benefitting from a wide range of their services. Andy Poole and the AW teams provide proactive advice, are easy to work with and we would recommend them without hesitation.

Andrew Perry, Practice Manager, Russell & Russell Solicitors

Armstrong Watson have provided our payroll services for a number of years.  The team there are excellent; the whole process is user friendly, extremely efficient and very cost effective – everything I need.  Any questions I’ve asked have been answered straight away (even daft ones) and they are terrific at dealing with last minute amendments!

I would thoroughly recommend the payroll team at AW to businesses of all shapes and sizes and look forward to continuing to work with them.

Scott Garson, Practice Manager, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors

I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution that Andy Poole made to the success of our business planning weekend in March 2019. Andy’s pre-meeting preparation, insight, experience and clarity of thought enabled us to achieve in just one working day what it would otherwise have taken us many working days to accomplish, over a much more protracted timescale. As a result of Andy’s overall contribution and willingness to challenge, we identified and unanimously agreed the strategic aims which will form the essential foundation of our business plan for the next five years. Andy made an invaluable contribution to our business planning process that was not only highly productive and outcomes focused but one that was inclusive and enjoyed by all who took part. I would recommend Andy to other law firms without hesitation or reservation.

Paul Bury, Managing Partner, The Endeavour Partnership LLP

Pepperells Solicitors are a dynamic and growing law firm founded over 25 years ago, employing over 100 staff in the Humber area. In 2016 we engaged the services of Armstrong Watson's specialist legal sector as we sought to change our business structure to reflect Pepperell's modern approach to Law. During the process we were introduced to Justin Rourke. Justin and the legal sector team advised us on ensuring the business and it's key stakeholders are adequately protected in the event of death or critical illness and continues to guide us through our pension planning.

Ben Pepperell - CEO Pepperells Solicitors

When invited to acquire the Practice from the former Partners, we approached Richard Gibson and his Glasgow legal sector/Corporate Finance team to assist us with the purchase.

Richard and his team quickly demonstrated an excellent knowledge of the taxation and regulatory issues surrounding the purchase, and helped structure the transaction to ensure the acquiring business was structured appropriately, and benefited from the most tax advantageous structure when completing the purchase.

Richard built an excellent working relationship with our corporate legal advisor, our funders and the in house finance team to make the purchase and takeover as seamless as possible, and his ongoing involvement has allowed us to focus on the development of our own Practice.

Graham Craik, Managing Partner, Levy & McRae

We engaged the Armstrong Watson legal sector team to provide outsourced FD services and to assist us through a period of transition following the departure of our previous in-house FD.  Their knowledge of the issues and bespoke recommendations have helped to refocus our management thought process and implementation of our strategy.  Armstrong Watson has refreshed the output of our accounting function and that has allowed our management team to focus attention where necessary. We use their user friendly KPI focused management information and this allows for a joined up approach with our strategy and informed management decisions.  All in all, we are delighted with our decision to outsource our FD function and wish that we had done it long before.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director & Head of Business Services, Cartmell Shepherd

Following a recommendation made to us, we have engaged the specialist Legal Sector team at Armstrong Watson for our accounts, audit and SRA Accounts Rules compliance requirement.  We have been impressed by the breadth of their specific knowledge of the sector and how that helps them to proactively advise us.  We greatly appreciate the consistent use of staff, and their interaction with our accounts team works very well indeed.  Their advance planning makes everything work seamlessly and they have already spotted and enacted improvements that have helped to simplify our accounts and save us money.

Philip Browell, Director, Browells Smith & Co Solicitors Ltd

We recognised that we could benefit from a more effective rewards programme for our staff and fee earners in order to reward and further encourage high performance. However, we were unsure about how to structure such a rewards programme in a way which would not have an adverse affect on morale within the firm or the culture of the firm.  

We were impressed by the knowledge, experience and awareness of Andy Poole and the specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson.  They really understood the likely impacts of potential rewards programmes and were able to provide a comprehensive report, suggesting a bonus scheme that was bespoke to our business, helping us to drive performance in our key areas.  The presentation of the scheme, suggested rules and financial awareness training delivered to our fee earners has had a positive impact on our business.

Ian Kennerley, Partner, Silk Family Law