![Ivan Ralph](https://b1202896.smushcdn.com/1202896/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ivan-1.jpg?lossy=0&strip=1&webp=1)
EDINBURGH-based solicitors and estate agents, Ralph Sayer, is accelerating its growth plans amid a ‘busy summer of deals’.
With staffing levels currently sitting at 25, the family-run legal firm has grown by 50% since forming in October 2022 and CEO Ivan Ralph expects that trend to continue.
He said, “We have a lot of good people here and the job they do is excellent but we’re now at the stage where we need to bring in reinforcements to help cope with the demand for our services that we are experiencing.
“We’re getting busier and busier all the time and there are no signs of things easing off. I expect that trend to continue going forward and it’s encouraging to see the business grow in this manner.
“This month, for example, we have 180 transactions to be settled. We have a number of fee earners in the office who are working many more hours than we would like them to have to doin order to keep up with the volume.
“It’s not our style to have our staff in for hours on end, working around the clock. We look after our people, they work extremely hard, do a great job for our clients and I want them to be able to go home at a normal time. I don’t want people to feel so under pressure that it impacts their wellbeing and their normal life outside of the office.”
The new recruitment drives comes after the recent appointment of Tzana Webster as head of estate agency. Ms Webster is leading an experienced team of valuers including Robin Davie and Stuart Quate.
Ivan continued, “We have always done large volumes of legal work but the estate agency side of the business is a focus for growth.
“We need more experienced pairs of hands, and that could be solicitors or paralegals; people who can handle their own case load, handling transactions from start to finish.
“The down side of being so busy is trying to cope with the volume of work and I’m keen to bring in the right people as soon as I can to join our close-knit team. The recruitment is a key part of our growth strategy which we are implementing quicker than anticipated.”