Standing out as an independent brand is this year’s winner of the Medium Firm of the Year Award, Leeds-based Sagars. The five-partner firm is one of the largest independent practices in Yorkshire. And while local merger activity rages strongly, Sagars is committed to growing organically and investing in its 70-strong team.

Sagars’ fee income has grown 21% over the past two years to £3.1m: 11.8% in 2004/05 and 8.1% in 2005/06.

The firm’s specialist services have made strong contributions to these financial results: Sagars has a large trust team looking after nearly 400 clients with a total trust value of more than £130m.

The firm’s corporate finance offering has been strengthened with the appointment of a new specialist partner. Sagars also offers wealth management and consulting advice, and its LawPoint division offers local legal professionals tax, accounting and business advisory services.

The management team’s strategy for strengthening Sagars’ financial position is to streamline systems and processes, and to invest in the team. It has recently invested in document scanning and management to streamline access to client information and remote network access for out-of-office working.

On the people management side, Sagars has increased its graduate intake, renewed its commitment to training and continual professional development and reaped the benefits of developing its own talent. Two Sagars partners and several managers joined the firm as graduates themselves.

The firm has been an Investor in People since 1999 and introduced flexible working and a team bonus scheme. The firm’s latest Investors in People report stated: ‘People feel very proud of being a part of Sagars. From the exceptionally positive feedback, it is clear that people continue to believe it is a great place to work.’

The awards judges noted that the attention Sagars pays to its team is carried through to its client relationships. ‘They have built something that will last and their focus on their people and their clients means they really care. This firm really knows about wealth creation.’

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

‘Sagars’ performance in auditing and advice is excellent. The size of the firm is just right to allow for a good range of services but small enough to make each client feel important.’

‘It is reassuring to know that I can implicitly trust Sagars to represent our best interests at all times.’

‘Approachable, energetic, timely.’