A YORK financial services firm which specialises in supporting the dental industry has added a legal division to its portfolio.

Skeldergate-based PFM Dental group has expanded its professional services offering through the addition of PFM Dental Legal.

The new legal venture brings the number of group employees to more than 20 as PFM dental starts the process of recruiting further staff as the legal and accountancy enterprises expand.

PFM Dental director Jon Drysdale said: "With the addition of legal services we expect the group to expand further to take a significant share of the dental practice acquisition market over the next 12 months."

Established in 1990, PFM Dental provides services exclusively for dentists. The group includes dental practice sales and valuations, chartered accountancy in partnership with Townends Chartered Accountants, in Fulford, chartered financial planning and now legal services.

Leading the new PFM Dental Legal venture is solicitor and director Stephen Knowles, who brings many year’s experience as a solicitor in York and is a member of the Guild of Scriveners of the City of York.

Mr Knowles, who has more than 10 years’ experience in the dental sector said: "Developing a law firm with one of the UK’s leading practice sales agents is a fantastic opportunity.

"We expect to work closely with the practice sales team at PFM Dental to ensure transaction times are reduced and clients get great value as well as unmatched technical expertise."