Press release – September 2026

Employee-owned law firm Ison Harrison has acquired long-established North West solicitors Dootsons, marking its first major acquisition outside its Yorkshire heartland in its 48-year history.

The deal, which completed on 18 September, adds three historic high street offices across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside to Ison Harrison’s growing Northern network. Coupled with the launch of its Manchester city centre base at No.1 Spinningfields last month, the acquisition takes the firm’s total footprint to 30 branches across Yorkshire and the North West.

The acquisition pushes total headcount across the business to 500 staff and brings annual turnover to £42m. All 27 fee earners and staff at Dootsons are joining Ison Harrison, including managing partner Andrew Stockton, maintaining day-to-day continuity for clients across core practice areas, including residential property, wills and probate, commercial, and family law.

Founded in 1897, Dootsons brings a 125-year history of serving local high streets across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, with offices in Leigh, Culcheth and Newton-le-Willows. Andrew Stockton, managing partner at Dootsons, joined the practice in 1981 and has been central to its development for more than four decades. During more than 30 years leading the firm, he has helped shape its reputation for trusted, practical legal advice and strong client relationships, supported by a team of more than 30 people.

Building on that strong local foundation, existing teams will remain in place following the acquisition, ensuring continuity for clients while providing access to Ison Harrison’s wider range of legal services, including clinical negligence and personal injury expertise.

The acquisition reflects the continued growth of Ison Harrison, which became one of the UK’s first 100% employee-owned law firms in 2022, while reinforcing its commitment to preserving the local relationships, trusted advice and community presence that have underpinned Dootsons’ success for more than a century.

Jonathan Wearing, managing director of Ison Harrison, commented: “Expanding our footprint in the North West, hot on the heels of establishing a presence in Manchester, is a statement of the intent of our growth plans beyond our traditional heartland. Our strategy remains unchanged: providing high-quality, local legal support right in the heart of local communities. Acquiring a firm of Dootsons calibre and reputation enables us to build quickly following our arrival in Manchester.

“This acquisition is also a personal homecoming for me. I began my legal career as a trainee near Leigh, so returning to an area that played such an important part in the start of my career, and welcoming the Dootsons team into Ison Harrison, feels like a genuine full-circle moment.

“Our expansion is entirely employee-driven. As a 100% employee-owned firm, every member of our team has a real stake in the business. That model fosters a client-first mindset and gives us the stability to invest in respected high-street firms that share our community values.”

Andrew Stockton, managing partner at Dootsons, said: “Over 125 years, Dootsons has built a reputation for trusted legal advice, personal service and long-standing relationships with clients across the communities we serve. Joining Ison Harrison gives us the opportunity to protect that heritage while ensuring the practice is well placed for the future, with the backing of a £42m regional firm.

“As managing partner of Dootsons for more than 30 years, my priority has always been to safeguard the standards, values and local knowledge that have defined the firm for generations. Our existing office teams will remain in place, providing continuity for clients and colleagues, and the same personal service our clients know and trust. This is an important next step for the practice and I look forward to working closely with Ison Harrison to build on Dootsons’ extensive legacy while keeping our people, clients and communities at the centre of everything we do.”

Niamh Wilson, partner and regional lead at Ison Harrison in Manchester, added: “Building out our presence across Greater Manchester gives us an ideal foundation to support regional clients. Following our initial move into Spinningfields, integrating the Leigh, Culcheth, and Newton-le-Willows branches gives us immediate depth across the North West. We look forward to working closely with the teams to support local businesses and families.”

Local office operations, client management, and existing partnerships, including numerous local sports club sponsorships, will continue uninterrupted under the Ison Harrison brand.

Ison Harrison now employs more than 500 staff across Yorkshire and the North West, offering the broadest range of legal expertise and services. The firm holds over 13 Law Society accreditations, including Lexcel, Clinical Negligence, Family Law, Immigration & Asylum, Conveyancing Quality, and SRA Higher Courts Rights – civil and criminal.

ENDS

Further information about Ison Harrison is available at www.isonharrison.co.uk