Altrincham has gained a fresh boost to its professional services scene after a local law firm reported its highest-ever fee income as it celebrated a quarter-century in business.
Record year for a local legal group
The McHale Group, founded in 2001 and based in Altrincham, announced it had exceeded £10 million in fee income for the year ending 31 May — the first time the group has passed that threshold in its trading history. The milestone comes as the business marks its 25th anniversary and signals ambitions to grow further across the North West and beyond.
The firm began life as McHale & Co in Levenshulme, originally concentrating on criminal work. Over the years it has broadened into conveyancing and a full-service practice through organic growth and acquisitions. Today the group advises on commercial litigation, real estate, corporate law, private client matters, employment and offers specialist services for the sports sector, including contract and transfer advice.
Leadership and staffing
Founder Andrew McHale has moved to the role of group chairman earlier this year while day-to-day leadership is handled by joint chief executives Adam Horner and Kamil Tomaszewski. The business employs 152 staff across five offices in Altrincham, Stockport, Heywood, London and Solihull.
"It’s been a rollercoaster ride over the past 25 years, and I feel blessed that so many great people have been part of the journey,"
McHale added:
"I’m so grateful to our team, clients, partners, and referrers who have been so pivotal in our evolution over the years. In some ways, it feels as though we are just getting started."
Local footprint and office growth
The group has already invested in its Altrincham base, expanding its office at Warrant House by an additional 4,500 sq ft to support a growing property team. That local expansion was paired with senior hires across the business during the past year, including:
- Paul Fitton — team performance director
- Grant Kerns — group director and chief operating officer
- Lindsay Rhodes — group people officer
- Andrew Marsden, Jenny Doran and Helen Tran — additions to the property team
The leadership says further growth is planned. The group’s strategy includes opening new offices in Manchester city centre and in Cheshire, alongside targeted acquisitions to broaden service lines and client reach.
What it means for Altrincham
For the town, the announcement matters on several counts. A record fee year and extra workplace space underline Altrincham’s attractiveness to professional firms seeking accessible premises close to Manchester while remaining outside the city centre. The planned Manchester and Cheshire openings suggest the group intends to keep Altrincham as a regional hub rather than relocate away.
Employment is another factor. With 152 staff currently across five sites and a recent string of senior appointments, the firm’s growth trajectory is likely to support further recruitment in legal, property and back-office roles — a positive for local job markets and for the wider professional services cluster in the area.
| Office | Location |
|---|---|
| Main | Altrincham (Warrant House; expanded by 4,500 sq ft) |
| Other | Stockport, Heywood, London, Solihull |
The McHale Group’s progress underlines the resilience of local professional firms in a changing market. For residents and businesses in Altrincham, the firm’s success means more local expertise to call on, extra commercial activity in town and the prospect of further employment opportunities as the business moves into its next quarter-century.
Officials at the firm say they are "hugely excited" about what the new leadership can achieve as it leads the group into its next chapter, signalling that more change and growth could be on the way.
