A CHESTER-BASED firm which has helped clients with serious injury and clinical negligence claims for almost three decades is set to relocate to Manchester.

The Roland Partnership, set up by founding partner Nina Roland in January 1997, has been acquired by Hugh James, a top 100 full-service law firm.

The move will see Nina and other former Roland Partnership legal professionals relocating to Hugh James’ Manchester office, unveiled on Commercial Street in December 2023. The firm also recently purchased serious injury firm Potter Rees Dolan.

The Roland Partnership’s co-manager Trevor Roland, Nina’s brother, is set to retire following 24 years at the helm with Nina joining Hugh James’ Manchester practice on a consultancy basis.

The Roland Partnership has an excellent reputation in the Northwest of England and is ranked for its expertise by the Legal 500 and Chambers guides to the UK’s leading law firms.

Speaking of the acquisition, Head of the Individual Client Services Division at Hugh James, Stephen Webber, who oversees Hugh James’ leading serious injury and clinical negligence departments, commented:

“The Roland Partnership is an excellent and well-run firm, with great expertise and a friendly culture that closely aligns with our own. We are delighted that Nina and her colleagues are joining us so that we can continue to provide the excellent service their clients have come to expect and look forward to working together to strengthen the work we do in the Northwest.

“I’d like to wish Trevor all the best as he steps down from his successful role at The Roland Partnership and express my gratitude for all the hard work both he and Nina have put in to make this transaction go so smoothly. I’m confident that their legacy and the clients are in good hands as we embark on the next chapter.”

Nina Roland, now consultant at Hugh James, added: “I am thrilled to be joining such a prestigious and forward-thinking firm.  I know our ethos of “client first” is mirrored in the way Hugh James conducts its cases, and having already met several of their team, it is clear that my colleagues from The Roland Partnership and I are going to very much enjoy working with them.”

Hugh James’ Managing Partner, Alun Jones, commented: “We’re proud of our growth strategy to date which has seen us partner with firms who share our values and culture. Adding The Roland Partnership to our award-winning and now UK-wide serious injury and clinical negligence departments, we believe the acquisition is a perfect strategic fit for us – continuing the excellent work we do for our clients and strengthening our presence across England and Wales.”