South West law firm Stephens Scown is marking the first anniversary of its Portland House office in Taunton, after growing its team by 14 over the past 12 months. Nine new colleagues have joined the firm, with five existing colleagues transferring to the office.
The move to Portland House was a significant investment in Stephens Scown’s Somerset presence, providing a permanent base from which to support clients across the county and grow its local team.
Over the past year, the office has also hosted client events and business networking, while the firm has continued to support local events, awards and community initiatives.
Former Somerset Lead Partner Stephen Wray said:
“Having Portland House as a base has helped us attract people and establish ourselves in Somerset. It’s given the team a place to call home and has made a real difference to how we’re seen, both internally and externally. “We have some exceptional people providing advice across a wide range of specialist areas, and seeing them all together under one roof is a real privilege.”
“It’s also been great to see other businesses using the space. Lloyds Bank, Barclays Bank and Somerset Chamber of Commerce have all made use of Portland House, and we’ve had people without their own local premises coming in to meet clients here. It’s become a real hub for the local business community, which is exactly what we hoped it could be.
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing the part we’ve been able to play in the wider community too, whether that’s sponsoring the Taunton Half Marathon and Taunton Swimathon or taking part in events like the Moonraker Challenge. Being involved locally and giving something back is important to us.
“One of the things I’ve enjoyed most over the past year is seeing the team come together. We’ve got people with different ideas and ambitions, and it’s been important that everyone has had the chance to contribute to what we want Portland House to be. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in our first year and excited about what comes next.”
Helen Williams, current Somerset Lead Partner at Stephens Scown, said:
“Our first year at Portland House has shown us just how much opportunity there is in Somerset.
“We’ve welcomed some excellent people into the Taunton team and we’re seeing more Somerset businesses coming directly to us. Having a permanent base here has also made it easier for us to build relationships and become more involved in the local business community.
“The next step is to extend that reach further across the county. We want to make sure businesses and individuals throughout Somerset know they can access a wide range of specialist legal expertise here.”
Portland House has helped the firm recruit experienced legal professionals as well as support people developing their careers in Somerset.
Managing Partner Richard Baker said:
“Fourteen colleagues joining or moving into Taunton over the past year is a good indication of the progress we’re making in Somerset.
“This was always a long-term investment. We wanted to create a strong base for our people and our clients but also give ourselves room to grow as we build our reputation in the county.
“We’ve had a very positive first year. Our ambition now is to keep growing our Somerset presence, both in Taunton and more widely across the county.” Stephens Scown will continue investing in its Somerset team during its second year at Portland House, alongside developing relationships with businesses, organisations and communities across the county.