Senior Partner, Ian Fretten, commenced practicing as a sole practitioner in Christchurch on 1st January 1978 and has spearheaded the development of the firm since then. The firm today is very different from the business he started. In 1978, Ian had no conceptions of how the business would grow but felt strongly that there was an opportunity in Christchurch and the conurbation for a solicitor's practice that would offer great service at affordable prices.
The firm originally dealt primarily with domestic conveyancing, Wills, probate and trusts, but over time developed in other areas. In particular, for many years the firm has dealt with an increasing caseload of matrimonial and civil and commercial litigation instructions. In 2002, Ian's son Matthew joined the practice, having trained and qualified in a large commercial firm in Southampton. His remit was to build a commercial side to the firm into a unit able to compete effectively with other commercial practices in the Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole conurbation and beyond. This objective has now been successfully attained and the firm is proud to boast expanding specialist company / commercial, commercial property, employment and debt recovery departments. The firm is very pleased to have been able to attract high calibre solicitors to all departments and will continue to strive to provide a high quality service to all private and business clients at affordable cost and, importantly, "with a smile".
The firm became a limited liability partnership (LLP) in 2006 and adopted a new brand which was specifically aimed at promoting the firm as a forward looking client focused provider of quality legal services in an increasingly competitive commercial environment. The firm is Lexcel Accredited and has been recommended by The Legal 500 (an independent guide to the legal profession). The Partners at Frettens feel that the firm has successfully made the transition from a high street practice to a well rounded, professional firm able to offer a full range of services to clients both in their private and business lives.
Solicitors: Service with a Smile!
Now with over fifty members of staff, the firm occupies a large, prominent office in the heart of Christchurch, and a satellite office in New Milton offering a full range of private and commercial legal services for a broad range of clients in the local area. The firm is successfully bridging the gap between the small high street practices that are unable to offer a broad range of specialist legal advice and the large regional firms who primarily tailor their services to large corporate clients. Our breadth of specialist knowledge and the friendly, common sense approach of our solicitors and other advisors is complemented by a close working relationship between Frettens' various practice areas.
Frettens has a number of long serving members of staff. Some, including David Walton, Jane Warr, Sarah Baron and Julie Frampton have been with the firm for over 10 years. They are some of the pillars of our firm and the Partners are grateful for their hard work and loyalty over the years. At the firm's 30th Anniversary party in July 2008, Ian Fretten publicly paid tribute to all the firm's staff, saying "A law firm is only as good as the people within it and our people are some of the best in the area. Our firm has been very fortunate to have been able to rely upon deeply committed staff down the years and I am very grateful to them for their support, encouragement and hard work."
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