A LOCAL law firm is restoring its original identity after leaving a national legal network.

Burn & Company, which has offices in York and Easingwold, was part of the launch of the QualitySolicitors (QS) network in May 2010.

The firm says it joined in order to improve its offering to clients and to put a series of significant quality assurance processes in place.

However, it is now due leave the network at the end of this month, saying it will re-establish itself as a truly local York and Easingwold family firm.

Managing director Claire Rutter said: “We joined QS for very good reasons.

“For example, it meant that clients would, with clarity, understand better the service they were receiving.

“The firm became accessible beyond traditional opening hours and our support personnel were trained as part of a first-contact team, to assist and give enhanced guidance for both existing and potential clients.

“QS also provided us with publicity on a national level and enabled potential clients to find us more easily, especially online.

“It is time to focus resources into our identity locally, serving the York and North Yorkshire community for conveyancing, family law, commercial and corporate matters and private client work.”

Director Graeme Burn said: “At Burn & Company we have always prided ourselves on being at the heart of our communities. We’ve gained much from joining the QS network – improving our processes and becoming more accessible to people requiring legal services.

“However, the time feels right to go back to our roots and our core values – as a friendly, local, family firm with strong links to the community.

“We started as a family firm 37 years ago in Lendal, York. Raymond Burn was then our principal solicitor and we have continued our father’s beliefs to always provide a personal approach to all our clients since then. My brother Mark and I and all our colleagues at Burn & Company, as well as so many of our clients, are very proud that we have continued with this.”

Ms Rutter said: “The last six years have seen us take quality assurance to a new level and we continue to improve year on year. My colleagues and I are very excited to be regaining our separate identity.”