Knights Hires Expert Property Team Ahead of Cardiff Office Opening
Six commercial and residential property specialists join from Le Gros Solicitors as Knights completes a deal to buy the law firm, which has built an excellent reputation in Cardiff since 2011.
Former Managing Partner Claudia Le Gros and a team of five other professionals, including Partner Bethan Sadler, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of the market in Cardiff and South Wales to Knights – complementing the expertise of its unrivalled nationwide network of 1,350 professionals across 32 locations.
The news is the latest step in Knights' preparations to open an office in the Welsh capital in the coming months. It builds on the arrival of dispute resolution specialist Will Baird, corporate lawyer Stewart Knights, tax and succession planning specialist Shaun Thomas and commercial property expert Scott Keddle who were recently announced as the first wave of hires for the business' Cardiff team.
A permanent office in the Welsh capital will be Knights' first outside of England, reinforcing the business' focus on providing access to the best legal experts in the country everywhere in the UK.
It comes amid a period of rapid growth for Knights – with recent acquisitions across the South East of England and Thames Valley bolstering Knights' established presence in the South West.
David Beech, CEO of Knights, said:
'Claudia and the team bring an excellent reputation and lots of complementary expertise to Knights – and strengthen the team of specialists with experience in South Wales that we're building.
'They are well known for great service and putting people first in their work, so they will be an excellent fit for our nationwide property team. We are confident that they will complement our existing teams in the South West and right across the country.
'We are the business that people to for legal and professional services everywhere in the UK, and this news makes that a reality in South Wales.'
For Le Gros Solicitors' clients, joining Knights will offer access to specialists across the UK's regional professional services business – helping them to tackle any challenge or opportunity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast recruitment firm appoints new managing director
Belfast-based 4C Executive Placement has announced the appointment of Claire Reid to the role. The firm also recently unveiled its brand refresh and newly refurbished offices in Belfast city centre. 'Having been with us for the past nine years as Head of Delivery, Claire is well-known among our clients for her unwavering commitment to excellence, rigorous attention to detail and her exceptional judge of character when it comes to identifying the very best talent for senior-level, business critical roles,' Gary Irvine, founder and chief executive, said. 'With a long background in the recruitment industry, Claire brings a wealth of experience and expertise that positions her extremely well to lead 4C in coming years as we enter this exciting phase in the business.' She replaces Gordon Carson who, after eight years as managing director at 4C, takes up the role of director of business development with Bryson. 'Bryson is an outstanding organisation with whom we have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, having placed the current chief executive and a number of other senior roles in recent years,' Mr Irvine said.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Waitrose apologises as product recalled due to 'health risk'
The supermarket chain has recalled its Waitrose & Partners Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta from shelves in its Scottish and Welsh stores. The pasta poses a 'possible health risk' to some customers as it contains mustard which is not mentioned on the label. The affected pasta has a use by date of August 27, 2025 and comes in packs of 375g. A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: 'Waitrose is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. 'The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to mustard, do not eat it. Instead return it to your local Waitrose & Partners branch for a refund. 'You can contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884, Option 4.' A Waitrose spokesman added: 'We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused.' Recommended Reading: What is a product recall? If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
HMRC 'looking at' new tax on homes worth £500,000 and over
Government officials are looking at a potential national property tax, which would replace stamp duty on owner-occupied homes to start with, and Council Tax in the medium term. No final decision has been made, but it is thought this national tax could help build a model for taxation, and the threshold discussed is believed to be £500,000. How would it replace Stamp Duty? Buyers pay stamp duty under the existing framework, if they purchase property worth more than £125,000. The new levy would be paid by owner-occupiers on houses worth more than £500,000 when they sell their home, with the amount due determined by the value of the property and a rate set by the Government. A Treasury spokesperson said: 'As set out in the plan for change, the best way to strengthen public finances is by growing the economy – which is our focus. 'Changes to tax and spend policy are not the only ways of doing this, as seen with our planning reforms, which are expected to grow the economy by £6.8 billion and cut borrowing by £3.4 billion. 'We are committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible, which is why at last autumn's budget, we protected working people's payslips and kept our promise not to raise the basic, higher or additional rates of income tax, employee national insurance, or VAT.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves will unveil any changes to the Government's tax policy at a fiscal event, such as a budget. Sir Mel Stride, Conservative shadow chancellor, said: 'The Conservatives have warned that more taxes are coming and now reports are emerging that the family home is next in the firing line. 'This tax grab would punish families for aspiring to own their own home.' When will Rachel Reeves start talking about saving money not just finding more & more ways of taking money away from people who themselves have bothered to save and work hard? — Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) August 19, 2025 Any moves to increase taxation have also been criticised by property presenter Kirstie Allsopp, who tweeted: "When will Rachel Reeves start talking about saving money not just finding more & more ways of taking money away from people who themselves have bothered to save and work hard?" Michelle Lawson, Director at Fareham-based Lawson Financial, admitted an overhaul to stamp duty is needed - but 'this is not it'. She added: "Everyone or nobody pays otherwise you create another division and another cliff edge, namely the £500k mark. Short-sighted tax grabs will be a disaster and will end up generating less rather than more. 'To increase the tax coffers, Reeves needs to charge less, charge everyone and scrap or reduce the crippling Section 24 additional property tax. An ignition of the property market will spark the economy, generate jobs and further increase tax receipts.' Chris Barry, Director at London-based Thomas Legal, agreed, adding: "Stamp duty 100% needs reform, I don't think there is a debate to be had on that front. It was originally introduced as a tax on high value homes and now impacts most people. "Tax incentives throughout history have moved the market more than Brexit, war, Covid and interest rates so this has to be the answer to give the market some life. Stamp duty breaks in recent years have been shown to bring in far more by way of tax receipts through VAT and wider economic growth as market volumes shoot up. 'It makes sense to remove stamp duty to a level that will provide a much-needed incentive for buyers. The alternative solutions are unclear but the Chancellor needs to be careful when taxing investment properties and second homes as this makes up approximately one third of the overall market and renters are already experiencing strain on rising prices.' Mumsnet posters have also expressed their concerns, especially those living in the south east, where property prices are higher. "Surely this will force people either to never move, or move away from the South East and London," said one poster. "I'm glad that there is finally something that isn't negatively affecting areas outside the South East but does she (Rachel Reeves) actually understand that £500k isn't much down here - a 3 bed terrace, at best." Recommended reading: Another added: "I was thinking it would need to be something that takes into account regional differences in house prices, then I realised we already have something like that - Council Tax."Others agreed that Council tax should be replaced: "Council Tax is a joke - in my village two new builds opposite each other 4 bed sold £850k put in band F and other 5 bed worth sold £750k put in band G, bungalow turned into a house recently sold for 1.25 million still in Band E. All should be band G." Some have embraced the idea, saying: "As someone who would be impacted by this, I don't think it's terrible. They have property taxes in lots of other countries and our Council Tax is based on completely outdated values." Another London-based poster said: "It's a pretty good idea. Wealth is under taxed, Council Tax is now regressive and the government need ££. I just hope it happens and isn't watered down to be ineffective. I live in London, by the way."
