BILL DRYDEN PGS Law LLP in South Shield
PGS Law LLP, previously based at two neighbouring offices at Waterloo Square and Coronation Street in South Shields, has just moved on 17th January into Law Court Chambers at 22 Denmark Centre on Fowler Street; the old Yorkshire Bank building, to support South Tyneside Council’s regeneration of Waterloo Square and Fowler Street.
Managing Partner, Bill Dryden, tells us the reason for the move and what changes this will entail: “The new office, which will showpiece significant investment from the partnership, will give us the opportunity to grow as a business, increase staff opportunities, and provide an enhanced experience for our clients. Moving to a new, more spacious building, where we will all be under one roof, will allow us to increase the services currently on offer and pool our knowledge to provide a level of legal expertise our clients will truly benefit from.”
So, the new premises are only a stone’s throw away from your old offices. Why did you decide on the new location?
“We have served the people of South Shields and the surrounding areas for generations. We are proud of being a leading high street firm and we want to be in the heart of the town so that our existing clients and potential new clients alike can know that we are close by for whenever they need us. Our investment, together with the plans of the council, shows that we believe South Tyneside is a place to live, grow, and do business. The building is a fantastic new workspace for us which will add a new dynamic to our way of working. We cannot wait to welcome clients old and new.”
PGS Law has a long and proud history and its roots can be traced back to 1879 through a series of mergers incorporating Newlands Newlands & Co, Donald Harvey & Co, as well as Patterson Glenton & Stracey Solicitors.
The 142-year-old business remains a stalwart of South Tyneside and has proudly serviced generations of families who are confident that, when dealing with PGS Law, they really do get ‘Guidance You Can Trust’.
What does the hierarchy at PGS Law LLP currently look like?
“The business currently has five partners, including me. I am their wills, probate, and trusts specialist and also notary public. I am also joined by Tony Ward who deals with our clients’ litigation and personal injury issues, Keith Swan and Ian Farrer who both work on residential and commercial property, and Carolyne Hargreaves who heads up the family law division.”
Are you planning to add any additional staff to the PGS family?
“Currently, we’re at 24 members of staff, but we do have plans to expand. I have been with the firm since 1987, along with many of my colleagues. Longevity in the business seems to be a positive of working with PGS Law, so we’re confident that our operating numbers will increase to 30 by the end of 2022. It is our intention to hire a new wills and probate practitioner as well as administrative staff in the new office, continuing in our commitment to the growth in the area. Our firm also prides itself on its internal training and career opportunities, offering all employees an excellent salary package. We have a solid reputation for giving our staff the opportunity to grow within the business, harnessing the talent of the individual. We’re proud to work with solid institutions and offer apprenticeships to students, Kickstart programmes, as well as presenting administrative staff the opportunity to further their careers.”
The changes sound exciting. Is there anything else the firm is doing that you can tell us about?
“By working with the public and the businesses we serve at PGS Law, we see this move as an opportunity to expand our good work within the region and become even more involved with what matters most to our clients and their communities. We’re already active within the Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, Daft as a Brush, the Customs House, Cancer Connections, as well as the Pier to Pier run to name a few. In addition to this, our partners are also trustees of the W A Handley Trust; Wilf Handley was the inventor of Domestos and his endowment provides regular annual support for many North East charities, including everything from social care, health, educational, religious, cultural, and environmental organisations.”
