Interview Graeme Orchison

My journey with the Manchester office goes all the way back to the start. Ten years ago, we opened our office in Manchester to establish a more permanent physical presence in the North of England. I have been head of location in Manchester since 2014 and have seen the firm go from strength-to-strength, establishing itself as a go-to legal advisor in the region and culminating in some fantastic achievements in recent years. 

What has been your proudest moment at TLT?

It is hard to pick out a single moment as we have been consistently setting the pace for legal service in Manchester and have worked on some of the region’s most prominent deals. It was great to be recognised for this when we won Manchester Law Firm of the Year last year at the Manchester Legal Awards– this was just recognition for our outstanding commitment to delivering excellent client advice and establishing a progressive people-first culture. I am also particularly proud of the team for achieving our target of 30% female partnership three years early.

How has the firm developed since you’ve joined?

The growth of TLT in Manchester has been really impressive. Since opening our doors, the office has grown substantially in size and revenue year-on-year, recording double digit growth revenue for each of the past five years and now hosting a team of more than 180 people.

Our upcoming move to Eden in Salford – a space designed to be the most sustainable office development in the UK – is another exciting reflection of our ambitions to reach net-zero, as well as our commitment to continue investing in our capabilities in Manchester. 

What has been the biggest challenge in the legal market over the past 10 years? And how do you think TLT has worked to overcome it?

In 2020 TLT was forced to grapple with the dramatic transformations to the world of work. At this time, our workforce was largely office-based, and we had to quickly transition to a working from home model, without compromising our level of service. Thankfully, our technological infrastructure and the huge dedication and time invested by all our team in Manchester, allowed us to do so, whilst continuing to deliver an outstanding service for all our clients. 

Since then, rather than resisting the move to a ‘hybrid’ working pattern, we have embraced it and now operate a flexible working pattern which benefits our people and our clients. 

In your opinion, what makes TLT stand out from other law firms in the local market?

Our people and client-centric approach is a key differentiator between us and other law firms, in Manchester and beyond. It is something we feel is commercially attractive – many of our clients really value our people-first approach – and hugely appealing to our colleagues. From the Manchester office, we have played a significant part in spearheading TLT World – the firm’s commitment to providing a flexible, progressive and inclusive work environment.

We are extremely active in the local business community and our teams have excellent knowledge of market challenges and opportunities – this has undoubtedly helped us to deliver the best possible client service and build our reputation as one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. 

Favourite thing about Manchester?

Manchester is a vibrant city, full of culture and character. It’s one of the fastest growing business hubs in the country with many companies expanding out of London choosing the Northwest for second or third homes. Manchester also has one of the biggest legal communities outside the City with some of the best legal talent in the country. On a professional level, it’s an exciting time to be in Manchester, supporting the growth and development of its business and legal community.