James Burford, Partner and Head of Property at Scott Bailey is celebrating 25 years with the firm.
Another anniversary is being marked this week, with a special milestone for one of Lymington’s familiar legal faces. James Burford, Partner and Head of Property at Scott Bailey is celebrating 25 years with the firm. He had his first taste of the legal world as a teenager on work experience, then joined the firm officially in the first year of the millennium.
Read on...
A quarter of a century at Scott Bailey – celebrating James Burford’s 25 years in Lymington
This year marks a special milestone for one of Lymington’s familiar legal faces. James Burford, Partner and Head of Property at Scott Bailey LLP, is celebrating an incredible 25 years with the firm.
“I can’t quite believe it’s been 25 years, but then again, I can’t really imagine being me without Scott Bailey.” - James
James first joined Scott Bailey as a teenager on work experience, before officially joining Scott Bailey in 2000. Over the years, he has become a cornerstone of the firm’s property department, known for his industry expertise, and his calm, knowledgeable approach. He’s also rather well known locally for his annual Easter Bunny fancy dress, where he hops down the High Street delivering chocolate eggs to local businesses!
During his 25 years with Scott Bailey, James has worked with generations of local families and businesses, acting on everything from first homes to commercial developments and marina properties. He’s particularly proud of the strong client relationships that have stood the test of time – with many people returning to the firm again and again for trusted advice.
Sarah Unsworth, Senior Partner at Scott Bailey, says “We are very proud to celebrate this milestone with James, and we wholeheartedly thank him for his commitment, loyalty, achievements and the wonderful memories he has brought to Scott Bailey over the past 25 years.”
Scott Bailey LLP has been part of the Lymington community for over 90 years, with its offices still based in the same high street building where it all began. From its roots as a small local practice, the firm has grown to serve clients across Hampshire and the south coast, while maintaining its friendly, personal touch.
When asked to share some reflections on the last 25 years with Scott Bailey, this is what James had to say:
“Back in 2000, my day was governed by what was in the post. All of the fee earners would congregate in reception, discussing last night’s plans or the football results. Now, emails flood the inbox and can be replied to in an instant, rather than days. The team primarily communicates via Teams for business-related matters these days. We have WhatsApp groups where we can stay in touch with each other on a daily basis if desired.
25 years ago, my office computer was the size of an industrial microwave. Now it’s a tiny box hiding somewhere on my desk – but it has 3 giant screens.
25 years ago, I had hair.
25 years ago, some people smoked. At their desk! Yes, really!
Dogs. That’s one good thing that I hope will never change at Scott Bailey. We have at least 4 regular canine companions. In my opinion, dogs are better than people. An old secretary of mine once said, “James is SO much nicer when his dog is in the office….” I’m still not sure whether that was a compliment or not…
Cheques. Some of my team have never even seen one. But, back in the day, every afternoon about 3pm, someone would head down to the local branch of HSBC to bank the day’s cheques. It is incredibly rare that we receive a cheque these days. Which is handy, given that we don’t have a local branch of HSBC anymore either.”
To continue reading James’s reflections, click here!
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About Scott Bailey LLP
Founded in 1930, Scott Bailey has grown to become a leading firm in the New Forest, providing a full range of legal services to private individuals and businesses. Services for individuals include Residential Conveyancing, Divorce, Family, Wills Trusts & Probate, Litigation & Disputes.
SME business legal services include Corporate, Commercial, Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Landlord & Tenant, Insolvency and Employment Law. Scott Bailey LLP is one of only a very few firms based in the New Forest providing these specialist services.
The first firm in the region to receive the Law Society's prestigious LEXCEL award for high standards of practice management and customer care, Scott Bailey LLP promises top-quality, professional help from a team of expert solicitors who will put your best interests at the heart of their work.
Scott Bailey was delighted and proud to win "Business of the Year" at the 2023 New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards.
