Most of you will know that I'm self employed as a solicitor. I have a small team - Sarah (conveyancer), Karen (bookkeeper), Ruth (wills and probate) and Anne (marketing). But the days of being on my own are all but gone.
June 2007 we had 3 firms approach us, 2 wanting to take us over. We turned them all down, 2 because they simply wanted to take out a competitor, and 1 because I didn't think it would work. But I hadn't scared off the nice lot, they came back last February with a different approach - and the more I scratched the surface, the more attractive it was. We've been negotiating all this while and finally settled terms today
So on Monday I become a partner in a three partner firm, Goode & Austin Solicitors LLP. The team all comes with, no redundancies - I was adamant on that, else no deal. Think I could teach some larger companies a lesson here! Anne's been terrific, she has taken a lot of the strain - and there's been a lot. I'm so excited about this, we've planned it for so long, I can hardly believe it's happening. I will miss the independence, and those early days 3 years ago when it was just me & Anne in a small office with a PC and a phone. But I won't miss having to do everything myself with little support. My partners (I'll have to get used to that!) are Chris (commercial lawyer, g*lf) and Brian (property and family, rides a GS500). I do property and civil litigation, plus I buy and sell small businesses, and defend a few criminal cases. Oh yeah, and I give advice to the org
Anne is becoming Practice Director, responsible for marketing and business planning. Chris is threatening that I will have to learn to play g*lf. AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH
Did I say that I'm excited? Economy notwithstanding, Chris and I are so optimistic as perversely we think we can do well in a downturn. And I'll still be available for consultations on the org, just have to be a bit more discreet about it
I know that every business has its challenges, just different ones. But I can't wait to get started
Ed