Blow to Hadleigh as law firm announces closure of branch

Gotelee Solicitors - which was acquired earlier this year by international law firm Mezzle - is shutting its branch in Church Street on Thursday (October 31). Its offices in Ipswich, Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Framlingham will remain open.

At the same time, the firm recently sold its wills arm to another firm - Right Legal Group - which trades under the name Simpson Solicitors. Other legal documents from the office's strong room are being relocated to a secure storage facility.

Client and Hadleigh resident Nigel Crisp said the closure of the office had come out of the blue.

"Clients - some very longstanding - have been left in the dark with little information apart from the local staff telling that the office closes at the end of the month," he said. 

"The Gotelees website gives little information and many people are finding it difficult, if not impossible to get information over the telephone."

Mr Crisp, 74, a former BT engineer, said the loss of the office was a big blow to the town. He first learnt of the closure of the office when Simpsons Solicitors called him asking him if he wanted to rewrite his will.

"Gotelees at Hadleigh have confirmed that all the wills were taken away in bulk and are now in Derbyshire, which seems to be the head office of Simpsons," he said.

"The firm gave excellent and trusted service for many years. In regard to recent experiences the people of Hadleigh surely deserve better."

He said he knows of one family whose relative died recently which was having difficulty retrieving the will and another friend whose husband died last year who was also having difficulty finding out the state of probate.

"Personally, I am trying to reclaim the deeds of my property which were stored at the Hadleigh office. I have been told that they were removed from the Hadleigh strong room because they were old. I was not informed," he said.

He wrote to senior partner Peter Crix earlier this month listing his concerns, he said. 

Gotelee Solicitors - which was founded in 1880 - was sold in spring of this year to Mezzle, another full-service law firm which has offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Gotelee and its 90-strong team transferred over to its new owners earlier this year. Mezzle was founded by chief executive Mel Kang and chief operating officer Raj Sumal - lawyers who previously worked for top-flight law firms.

Gotelee's then managing partner - the late Andrew West - hailed the deal as "an exciting time" for the firm - but said it would be "business as usual" for clients.

From left, Mel Kang CEO of Mezzle, and the late Andrew West, managing partner at Gotelee Solicitors (Image: Mezzle) "The legal sector is a highly competitive market. With the investment and resources brought in by Mezzle, we are looking forward to growing and consolidating our position," he said at the time.

In June, the firm celebrated a move out of its Elm Street, Ipswich, offices and into smaller leased premises at nearby Franciscan House.

Mel Kang, right, and the late Andrew West at the launch of Gotelee's new offices in Ipswich in June (Image: Mezzle) Later that month, Gotelee announced the shock news that Mr West - who steered the acquisition deal for Gotelee and became Chief People Officer at Mezzle - had died "far too young". 

"He was a true legend and an exceptional leader, guiding the business and its people through the challenges of Covid and numerous changes, always with a smile and abundant laughter," the firm said in a Facebook post.

Following the criticism from Mr Crisp, Mezzle chief marketing officer ​​​​Derek Holota Mezzle said the new owners were focused on technology that facilitates remote and flexible working to offer better work-life balance to staff.

"As a result, the need for office space has decreased, and in turn, the Ipswich office in Elm Street has relocated to a smaller office down the road in Franciscan House," he said.

"The Hadleigh office will close as of October 31, but Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Framlingham will remain open.

"Alongside the Ipswich office, they will be able to serve the clients in and around Hadleigh and Suffolk. The firm will continue to offer home visits too."

The reduction in office space had reduced the firm's document storage capacity and as result care and conduct of historic wills made before September 1, 2024, had been transferred to trusted partner Right Legal Group, trading as Simpson Solicitors, he added.

This was a "regulated and respected national law firm specialising in wills and probate", he said.

"They have started to get in contact with clients on behalf of Gotelee to confirm the safekeeping of their will. However, clients can contact them sooner on 01473 875142 or email customersupport@rightlegalgroup.com," he said.  

Meanwhile deeds and other documents previously held in the office storage are being relocated to secure off-site storage but remain under Gotelee care. "We can access them on behalf of clients at any time," he said.

"We remain dedicated to providing excellent client service and are responding to individual client inquiries about our growth as quickly as we can," he said.