An exciting year for Debenhams Ottaway

Debenhams Ottaway has just announced a major investment in a state of the art IT system. The multi award winning Peppermint Legal Service Platform will replace Debenhams Ottaway’s existing systems with the next generation of legal software. It will provide a single integrated system for all aspects of their business from client information and documents to case management and finance.

It forms part of a major overhaul of the IT system by the firm in the last 6 months. This included moving to the cloud in December, giving its lawyers access to the systems at all times from anywhere in the world. The ten year contract will be rolled out in both St Albans and Radlett to its 100+ staff.

Over the last 12 months Debenhams Ottaway has seen a significant increase in the amount of work it receives. Maintaining its excellent client service record in this environment is key to Debenhams Ottaway. Along with the new IT systems, the firm is also investing in its people. It has undertaken a major recruitment campaign, bringing the number of lawyers to 68 to ensure it meets the growing needs of its business, family and individual clients. It has retained over 75% of its trainee solicitors who qualified with the firm at the end of last year and promoted four of its solicitors to Associate level, recognising their hard work and giving them greater client responsibility.

It was the only law firm listed in Grant Thornton’s top 100 businesses in St Albans in 2014.

Chief Executive Ian Hopkins comments “since I joined Debenhams Ottaway in 2010 I have focused on transforming the firm in to a modern, client focused business whilst still keeping all the benefits of its heritage – experience, knowledge and strong roots in the community. We continually meet and exceed our clients’ expectations with 98% being prepared to recommend us to family and friends. This couldn’t be done without the excellent team we have here who have the energy and imagination to think differently. I look forward to another exciting year as we strive to continue.”