Specialist dental and healthcare solicitors Thomas Coates and Sarah Buxton are pleased to announce their acquisition of the entire issued share capital of FTA Law Limited in a management buyout. The firm will now trade as Buxton Coates Solicitors Limited from July 1, 2023.
FTA Law was formed in 2016 by experienced solicitors Thomas Coates and Sarah Buxton alongside Chris Strevens, Lis Hughes and Andy Acton, directors of the Frank Taylor Group of Companies. The firm was formed out of a jointly held desire to offer legal services in a transparent, timely and cost-effective way, prioritising client care above all things and free from the jargon typifying the provision of legal services.
The linkup of Thomas and Sarah with the Frank Taylor Group in 2016 proved a formidable base from which to take the bold step of launching a brand-new law firm, and from those beginnings, the firm has displayed impressive growth each year, culminating in a turnover in excess of £1.5 million in fee income and a head count numbering more than 20 staff members as of today. In 2020, the firm received the ‘Niche Law Firm of the Year’ award at the prestigious Yorkshire Lawyer Awards. This was shortly followed by the firm’s relocation from serviced offices to its now permanent home in impressive premises on the outskirts of Leeds.
Following unprecedented growth, particularly during and after the covid pandemic, Thomas and Sarah began discussions with their fellow shareholders with a view to taking full control of the business and those discussions culminated in their completion of the acquisition on June 5, 2023, bringing to an end the firm’s connection with the Frank Taylor Group.
The mutual decision to move forward in this way arose from amicable discussions about what is best for the future of the firm. It represents an appetite to take the firm in a new direction and to pursue opportunities that now present themselves. The significant growth of the Oracle Employment and HR Subscription Service under Sarah’s management, alongside the addition of a specialist commercial disputes team, means that the firm is now a full-service law firm in every respect, with a variety of specialisms and income streams standing shoulder to shoulder alongside the historically core areas of business sales and purchases.
The transition from FTA Law to Buxton Coates is seamless and will have no impact on existing client relationships, case management, or ongoing legal matters. The firm's commitment to delivering exceptional service remains unwavering, ensuring clients continue to receive the same level of expertise, professionalism and dedication they have come to expect.
The firm's support of its long-term partners will also remain steadfast. These partners include the Association of Dental Administrators and Managers (ADAM), the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), and the Business Confidence Forum.
Although this new move marks the end of FTA Law in one sense, Sarah and Thomas are eager for what lies ahead at Buxton Coates and the potential that this evolution holds for their clients.
Thomas Coates, commented, “I’m delighted to have completed the acquisition, which allows us to move from being minority shareholders to now having full control of the future direction of the firm. We part from the Frank Taylor Group very much as friends, and we remain grateful to Chris, Lis and Andy for their support and guidance over the last seven years, which has contributed so much to the growth of the successful firm we now find ourselves custodians of. Whilst the name of the firm will change, our ethos and values remain steadfast, and we look forward to the next chapter as Buxton Coates Solicitors.”