Rotherham legal firm, Wilford Smith has opened a new office at Meadowhall Business Park in Sheffield.
ARBA Group, which has undertaken a multi-million pound redevelopment of the 70,000 sq ft business park, has let 2,800 sq ft to the company as it continues an ambitious expansion programme both in the region and nationwide.
The letting has seen a team of professionals move into ground floor office space at Meadowhall Business Park chosen because of its location and accessibility for clients.
Wilford Smith, which specialises in major fraud and complex corporate cases, commercial conveyancing and estate planning, now has offices in Rotherham, Meadowhall Business Park and Paradise Street in Sheffield, and in central London.
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The firm was founded by Steve Smith MBE in 1981 and has grown to employ a team of 26. The business was incorporated in 2017 and the firm's manager, Garth Imison (pictured, left), is now overseeing the expansion programme after gaining Alternative Business Structure status.
The status enabled Wilford Smith to attract investment and management expertise from non-lawyers, as well as to deliver a wider range of client services. The expansion has so far has been self-funded, but the firm has not ruled out accepting offers of external funding.
Smith worked his way up to become a Solicitor of the Supreme Court – without A-Levels, a degree or even a formal education.
Steve Smith MBE, founder and senior partner at Wilford Smith, said: "The office at Meadowhall Business Park is ideal and meets the needs of our team's culture, working across one floor in a high-quality environment and the location makes us more accessible to clients.
"Our professionals have been operating across the region from our Rotherham office since 1981 and during that time we have expanded our team of experts by attracting high-calibre professionals with criminal and niche sector expertise – something we are very proud of.
"We are looking forward to continuing our growth in South Yorkshire and welcoming additional talented professionals and specialist teams to the company."
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Richard Burns, director at ARBA Group(pirctured, right), added: "The offices at Meadowhall Business Park are proving to be well sought after and are attracting quality business to the region and furthering existing companies expansion plans.
"We're pleased to welcome Wilford Smith to these high-profile offices to help their growing business expand further.
"The signing of this lease highlights that Meadowhall Business Park continues to prove to be a place where businesses want to relocate to and grow from."
The rearranged fixture of the New York Beer Festival takes place this weekend at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, the home of Rotherham United.
Organised and run by the Rotherham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the third running of the event was postponed when the Championship club secured another prestigious international fixture in November, but it is back "bigger and better."
The "Home," "Away" and "Championship" bars will feature 70 different real ales from Yorkshire and Derbyshire, all delivered by hand-pulls, as well as bottled beers, cider and perry, and wine from around the world. All of the winning ales from The Rotherham CAMRA Yorkshire Championship held at the Magna Real Ale Festival in 2014 will be available.
Rotherham's three breweries - Chantry, Harthill Village and Wentworth - will be represented. Indeed, Chantry used the first event in 2012 to officially launch its first beers.
Live music is also on the bill with acts performing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Steve Burns, chairman of Rotherham CAMRA and festival organiser described the festival as a "fantastic celebration of real ale, now established as a don't miss event on Rotherham's vibrant social scene."
Everyone working at the festival is an unpaid CAMRA volunteer and Rotherham Cancer Care Centre will be present throughout the festival raising money for its worthy cause.
Steve added his thanks to the festival sponsors including main sponsors Wilford Smith Solicitors and other local firms.
Rotherham insolvency experts Moorhead Savage is giving its support by sponsoring the programme. Paul Moorhead, managing director at the award-winning firm, said: "I am delighted to once again have this opportunity to be involved in such a great event. We are a Rotherham company and we are always keen to promote Rotherham's successes and be a part of them.
"It's a pleasure to be able to join main sponsors Wilford Smith Solicitors and give our backing to such a successful event."
Lieutenant Commander Allen Dixon, Brian Chapple and Stephen Smith, MBE, are set to become Honorary Freemen of Rotherham.
Elected Members of the Council recently agreed that arrangements should be made to admit them in recognition of their eminent service to the borough.
Northumberland-born Brian Chapple has lived and worked in Rotherham since 1969. He started his career as a teacher at Wickersley Comprehensive School and then Old Hall Comprehensive School. He then held a number of positions at Rotherham Council including education adviser and OFSTED inspector and went on to become the independent chair of The Rotherham Partnership.
From 2001, Brian's career focused on the Rotherham Rugby club where he worked as chief executive, and he was instrumental in establishing the Titans Community Foundation.
Rotherham United appointed Brian as their new community director in 2011 as they looked to maximise the community aspects of their new stadium but Brian left the role after suffering from ill health later that year. Brian was already well know to Rotherham United fans through his work as a commentator for Radio Sheffield from 1982-2004 ("Everybody's gone mad, I've gone mad, the fans are on the pitch, who blames them"). He is currently working on details for Paul Warne's testimonial.
Brian also joined Full Circle Learning as chairman in November 2010. Full Circle works with a number of partners in the town to provide training opportunities for young people in areas such as construction, security and IT. Partners include Lifeskills, Morrison plc and Rotherham United.
Steve D Smith, MBE is a criminal lawyer at Wilford Smith Solicitors in Rotherham town centre and is famed for his high profile cases, after-dinner speaking and charity work. Sheffield-born Steve aspired for a life in showbusiness but was drawn to the theatre of the courtroom and worked at local solicitors whilst studying for his legal exams. He moved to Rotherham in 1971 despite being told that "it was so rough even the kids played conkers with hammers" and grew to like it and its people.
In 1981 he set up Wilford Smith with friend, Steve Wilford, specialising in fraud and environmental cases, together with serious crime, such as murder, manslaughter and drug related offences. The firm went on to attract high profile clients including the late Adam Faith, the boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, and Rotherham peer, Lord Ahmed. With plenty of stories to tell, Steve has become a successful author and after dinner speaker.
The self-confessed workaholic is also involved in several local charities (raising an estimated £2-4m) including being chairman of the SAFE@Last charity that provides refuges for abused children. Steve was awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to Rotherham and South Yorkshire charities.
For over 50 years, Commander Dixon has organised both the Remembrance Day and Mayor's Parades through Rotherham town centre. Since 1958 and even after his retirement in 2012, he has organised and planned the two annual parades, that often involve hundreds of people.
Rotherham United appointed Brian as their new community director in 2011 as they looked to maximise the community aspects of their new stadium but Brian left the role after suffering from ill health later that year. Brian was already well know to Rotherham United fans through his work as a commentator for Radio Sheffield from 1982-2004 ("Everybody's gone mad, I've gone mad, the fans are on the pitch, who blames them"). He is currently working on details for Paul Warne's testimonial.
In 1981 he set up Wilford Smith with friend, Steve Wilford, specialising in fraud and environmental cases, together with serious crime, such as murder, manslaughter and drug related offences. The firm went on to attract high profile clients including the late Adam Faith, the boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, and Rotherham peer, Lord Ahmed. With plenty of stories to tell, Steve has become a successful author and after dinner speaker.
