A SOLICITORS’ firm in Stoke-on-Trent insist talented corporate lawyers who live in the city don’t have to travel to the likes of Manchester and Birmingham to obtain top quality employment.

RJS at Trentham are particularly keen to add to their corporate department, which enjoyed a very impressive turnover of transactions in 2020 despite the problems caused by coronavirus.

Led by director Jennifer Kelly, who set up the company with MD Rob Bailey 16 years ago, RJS’ corporate sector completed more than 20 deals for major companies totalling more than £20m last year.

The specialist work includes management buy outs, demergers, refinancing, sales, acquisitions and, in some cases, helping to find investment.

Rob said: “The quality of the work done by Jen and her team really is first-class. I have no doubt we can attract more corporate contracts, but the problem is attracting the high calibre of people who can do the work.

“There are talented advocates out there living in or around Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, but sadly the perception of our city isn’t good and too often we struggle to attract them.

“Just because we aren’t based in the middle of Manchester, Birmingham or Derby doesn’t mean our work is of a lesser quality – in fact we can prove it is just as good or, in many cases, better.

“The companies we represent are generally within a 25-mile radius of Stoke-on-Trent. We can look after anyone who owns a business for all of their needs, apart from criminal.”

Jennifer’s caseload is already “extremely busy” for several months into 2021 and she added: “We had a very successful 2020 and I have no doubt we can do even better if we can recruit the right people.

“I’m sure other companies in Stoke-on-Trent face a similar problem attracting talent and it can be very frustrating. But we will keep getting our message out there and hopefully we will get the people we are looking for.”