Winn Solicitors' CEO Chris Birkett on expansion, leadership change and staying true to the North East.
It’s a time of significant growth and change at Winn Solicitors, but if there’s one thing CEO Chris Birkett is clear about, it’s this: success doesn’t mean losing sight of your roots.
“We’ve just had our year-end results and done really well again,” Chris tells us. “We’ve grown in revenue and EBITDA, (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) and our headcount’s increased too. We’re now up to about 750 staff across our four sites.”
Winns is thriving across the board, particularly in Scotland, where the firm has seen steady success in a distinct legal landscape. “Scotland’s a different jurisdiction to England and Wales, so we had to set up a separate legal entity, fully regulated by the Scottish authorities,” Chris explains. “We’ve got offices in both Edinburgh and Glasgow now, and around 36 people working across the two sites. That operation is around 18 months old and is performing well.”
Previously, Scottish cases requiring litigation had to be handed off to a partner firm. But as Winns grew nationally-particularly with its insurance clientsit became clear that bringing Scotland in-house made strategic sense. “It’s allowed us to offer a truly national service with consistent quality,” Chris says.
Impressive numbers and new opportunities
The financials reflect the momentum. Winn has increased turnover from £190 million in FY24 to £196 million in FY25. And for the first time, EBITDA has topped £40 million, finishing at £40.6 million compared to £37 million the previous year.
Chris attributes the growth to a rise in instructions, the winning of new accounts across the UK, and an increase in organic business from insurance partners. “Some of our partners have grown their own client bases and policy volumes, which has led to more work for us,” he says. “We’re also in discussions with two major insurers about supporting their telematics offerings with our 24/7 services.”
That growth has translated into recruitment too. “We’ve expanded again here in Byker on Shields Road,” Chris says. “We’ve taken on another floor at the top of the building-80 people there already, and space for another 80.” It’s been a measured, steady increase: “Around a 10% uplift in hire instructions. Nothing overwhelming, just nicely paced growth.”
Leadership evolution
Winn is also experiencing a leadership transition. Founder and long-standing chairman Jeff Winn retired at the end of March, stepping back to spend more time with family and in Spain.
“He’s still a major shareholder and board member, and he’ll provide consultancy work, but he’s no longer chairman,” Chris says. “That role’s now taken up by Callum Cusiter from our major investor, Souter Investments.”
Souter Investments-a family charitable trust, not private equity-has been with Winns since 2013, offering continuity and shared values. “It’s made that transition smooth. They know the firm, they know the people-it’s all very stable.”
Staying in Byker – and giving back
Despite its size and success, the firm has chosen to stay local rather than relocate to a more corporate setting. “We’ve been based in Byker since 2002,” says Chris. “We’ve got secure parking, excellent transport links, and we’re just a few minutes from the city centre. We looked at moving to a modern business park a few years ago, but it just didn’t feel right.”
There’s also a tangible benefit to being in the community: “Our offices are close together, just a few minutes’ walk from each other, and that encourages people to get up, move around, and get some fresh air. Plus, we’ve always been committed to giving back.”
That commitment is more than words. The firm has supported several local junior football teams, sponsored community initiatives, and continued its partnership with the Rainbow Trust as its Charity of the Year. Recent fundraising efforts have included the Hadrian Wall Challenge and an ambitious 72 holes of golf in one day-raising £5,000 and a few blisters in the process.
Winn’s has also invested in the Lighthouse Project in Byker, donating £12,000 of kitchen equipment to help children and families learn to cook and prepare meals in a welcoming community space.
Culture comes first
For Chris, though, the most rewarding part of the job is the people.
“The best part? It’s got to be the engagement with staff,” he says. “When I became CEO, one of my guiding principles was that I wanted people to come to work happy-to enjoy being here. A business is only as good as the people in it, and you’ll only get the best from them if you give them what they need to succeed.”
It’s clear that culture isn’t just a box-ticking exercise at Winns- it’s a core part of how the business operates. “We’ve got people here who want to do well, and that shows in everything they do.”
With strong leadership, a people-first culture, and community at its heart, Winn Solicitors continues to grow without losing sight of where it started-and why it matters.
www.winnsolicitors.com