NORTH Yorkshire law firm Newtons Solicitors has launched a new office in York.

The firm has appointed two property solicitors from York firms as it plans to increase its presence in the city.

Newtons has acquired two-storey, 1,300 sq ft premises at Maple House, Wykeham Road, Northminster Business Park, on a 200-year-lease, creating its fourth office.

The fast-growing firm, which already has bases in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, now employs 26 people across its offices and has further expansion plans particularly to the north of the county and Teesside.

Property solicitor John Paice, who has worked for six years at York practice Guest Walker & Co, based in Shambles, has joined Newtons as a director and will head up the new York office.

He said: “I’m delighted to join Newtons Solicitors to open the firm’s new office. York is a dynamic and exciting business area and, once we have settled in, we will recruit more York lawyers to our team.”

Christopher Newton, founder and managing director of the firm, said the firm had generated 75 per cent growth in the 12 months up to December 2012.

He said: “A York office has been on our wish list for some time and we are delighted that it is now a reality.

“We already have a good client following in York and opening an office will help us to grow considerably. I believe that our straightforward, down-to-earth approach will go down well in York and I’m looking forward to seeing the business expand further.”

York property lawyer Sally Robinson, formerly a partner at Denison Till, has also joined Newtons and will work at the firm’s Knaresborough office.

The firm was supported by Santander Corporate Banking in the acquisition of the new office.