Bridge McFarland

Bridge McFarland LLP is a law firm operating in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire. Its history dates back to 1851, making it one of the oldest firms in the region, and today it ranks amongst the largest law firms in Lincolnshire. The firm works equally for individuals, families and businesses and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

The website divides everything into two clear sections: legal services for individuals and legal services for businesses. This structure simplifies matters. You choose your area, and the teams and sub-services branch out from there.

The difference between the two branches lies in what each one deals with. Private client law follows life's milestones: a move, a marriage breaking down, a will to be drawn up, an accident that changes everything. Business law, on the other hand, deals with commerce and property, from farms to company sales. A few teams, including those specialising in employment law and dispute resolution, work on both fronts.

On the personal side, residential property conveyancing covers the sale and purchase of homes, the renewal of leasehold tenancies, and refinancing or equity release transactions. Moving house usually involves a mountain of paperwork, so this is the day-to-day bread and butter of any regional practice. The firm's accreditations include the Law Society's conveyancing panel accreditation.

Family law covers divorce and separation, child arrangements, cohabitation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, plus the financial aspects of a break-up. The team is backed by a Law Society accreditation in children's law, which is important in cases involving minors.

Wills, trusts and probate matters are handled by the private client team. The solicitors there draft wills, draw up powers of attorney, plan estates with inheritance tax in mind and handle probate proceedings. There is also a wide range of services for contested wills, from applications under the Inheritance Act to disputes with executors, and the firm also holds the Law Society's Wills and Inheritance Quality mark.

Services for elderly clients have their own dedicated section, which is not something you see at every firm. This covers life interest trusts, care home tax planning and support for vulnerable clients facing financial abuse. In my view, the explicit mention of this latter issue is a wise choice, as families going through such situations often do not know where to start.

The personal injury practice is extensive here. Beyond ordinary road traffic and workplace accidents, the list includes agricultural accidents, occupational diseases, asbestos-related cases and mesothelioma, and even maritime and dock accidents. This mix is characteristic of a region where agriculture and ports shape everyday life, and is complemented by our membership of APIL, the association of solicitors specialising in personal injury.

Medical malpractice has its own team, backed by accreditation in clinical negligence. Claims against other professionals, such as solicitors or valuers whose advice has gone wrong, fall under professional negligence. A recent report on the website details £225,000 recovered for a lorry driver seriously injured by a forklift truck at work, which gives a concrete picture of the cases handled by this part of the practice.

Business clients have their own range of services. Agricultural and rural business law kicks things off – a natural fit for a firm rooted in an agricultural area – and, as much of the local economy relies on agriculture, it is vital to have solicitors who speak this language. Right alongside these are commercial property and property development advisory services.

The corporate and commercial team handles mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, company restructurings and demergers, as well as partnership agreements. Employment law operates on both sides of the fence, advising employees in employment tribunals on dismissals and redundancies, whilst guiding employers on their obligations. Dispute resolution performs a similar dual role for both private and commercial clients.

Quality marks feature frequently on this site and are of the verifiable kind. Lexcel, the practice management standard issued by the Law Society, has been in force since 2008, with independent assessments carried out every year. A Cyber Essentials Plus certificate covers data security, a crucial detail in a business built on confidential files.

The news section is also worth a mention. A series called 'Joe Pepper Explains' answers everyday questions about property: can your neighbour build a shed right up against your fence, what are the rules for a new driveway, and who is responsible for rainwater drainage? Add articles on due diligence for business acquisitions and changes to the review of commercial rents, and you have a firm that writes in plain language about the very issues clients actually ask about.

This openness is evident elsewhere too. Testimonials, case studies and the results of client surveys are published on the website, whilst a careers section with FAQs for interns and trainees suggests that the firm develops its own solicitors, rather than simply recruiting from outside. As a reviewer, I find it easier to assess such a transparent profile than a page full of adjectives.

Small practical details complete the picture. Every office is accessible to people with disabilities, and the contact form allows you to select your preferred practice area and branch before someone calls you back. Small things, but they save time when you're already stressed by a legal problem.

Taken together, Bridge McFarland comes across as a regional firm with deep local roots. A farmer, a first-time homebuyer and a company director would each find the right fit here. Few firms can combine a founding year of 1851 with a current cyber security certificate on the same page, and that breadth speaks volumes.

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