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Outset Group doubles headcount in legal

Outset's significant growth sees the addition of 10 new lawyers to its legal team.

Last year, we recruited Sean Gorman and Darren Stevens, previously partners at large regional firms, to lead the growth and development of its legal division at Outset UK Group, alongside CEO Jonathan Gauton.

Outset has experienced significant growth over the past year and has complemented its team with a further 6 lawyers, including Abbe West, one of the UK’s leading specialist dental lawyers, plus 2 additional trainees and a further 2 paralegals.

Sean Gorman said: “It’s been a tremendous year, with exceptional growth in revenues in the legal division. The transaction team has completed 65 deals since January, with a total deal value of over £200m. By the end of the year, I expect this to be around 90 deals and over £250m in value. Our track record of project managing deals to short completion timetables has made us very popular with clients. On average, our deals complete around 10 weeks from instruction. We’re fortunate to have an outstanding and dedicated team – all the credit has to go to them for their exceptional work and commitment.”

Darren Stevens added: “We have been able to recruit some impressive talent, a mix of City and regional experience, and we are still looking to add to the team to support the on-going growth”.

Outset attributes its growth to its core philosophy: a belief that existing models for delivery of business services are outdated, and that there is a better way, a way more shaped to clients’ requirements, and less-focused on the adviser’s own internal structures or concerns.

Sean Gorman explained: “As a corporate lawyer, the key for me is understanding what a client really wants to achieve. In my experience, that’s simple – a quick timetable and the best commercial terms possible. Our detailed knowledge of the commercial aspects of deals ensures the latter; our technology-driven, project management focussed approach, the former. With more traditional models, clients can be frustrated with long delays and even longer emails explaining the law but not giving any actual commercial advice. I’ve been on both sides of the table, so I know how that feels. On most deals, you know from the start what the key issues are likely to be. So we identify and address those first. The rest then falls into place.”

Outset’s consulting and health and safety divisions have each also seen an increase in revenues, with the group also having made 2 acquisitions to complement its organic growth.

CEO, Jonathan Gauton said: “It’s great to see the growth over the past year. We continue to work towards our aim of offering an integrated advisory solution to clients. We have ambitious plans to grow all divisions and I’m proud to see the teams delivering on these strategic goals. This is just the beginning of what will be an exciting journey for us”.

 


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Insider South East November 2017