What we think

“New clients are often refreshed when they come to see us”, says Jamie Hodgkinson, Director of Haynes Robinson Lawyers. “Their eyes light up when they realise we can help them sort things out and we’ll be nice about it. Perhaps they expect a crusty old person who will shout at them”, he laughs, “but we try to put ourselves in their shoes and explain everything so it makes sense.

“We’re sensitive not only about making sure the job gets done, but also ensuring the client feels the job is being done well. We do this by communicating regularly and responding promptly to enquiries and requests. Building good relationships with our clients is the core of our business, so we make it our priority.

“The biggest unrecognised need I see for our services is between people who do things on a wink and a nod – or by writing an agreement on the back of a proverbial coaster. When things don’t work out, the emotional toll is often bigger than the financial toll. We make it our business to help clients protect their primary relationships – whether personal or business.

“Most people prefer clarity – to have things up front. But often neither party has the courage to spell out the fine print of a verbal or a gentleman’s agreement. Assumptions have been made that the other party will do the right thing. The problem is that each person’s version of the right thing is different.

“Like playing a game with two different sets of rules, this can cause feelings of great unease. It’s the elephant in the room that no-one wants to talk about. At Haynes Robinson, we say, I like you, you like me, so let’s protect this by having a legal agreement.

“As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We look for solutions that minimise or prevent difficulties later on. That’s why our clients keep coming back to us, generation after generation.”