COLES Solicitors, which has its headquarters in Northallerton and offices in York and Thirsk, has expanded west into the Pennines after buying a practice in Settle.

Coles managing director and principal solicitor Peter Gibson has acquired the business of Derek M Jordan in Settle’s Chapel Street, in readiness for Mr Jordan’s retirement. The latter will remain with Coles as a consultant during the transition.

The new acquisition will be rebranded over the coming weeks.

“We’re delighted with this expansion,” said Mr Gibson.

“It’s at the opposite end of the Yorkshire Dales, so we can now cover the east and west of the patch.

“We’ll be retaining the service of the practice’s lawyers and support staff, and augmenting the expertise of the whole group, particularly in the area of agricultural conveyancing and probate.

Agricultural property expert Simon Best joins the Settle team as part of the deal, joining Mr Jordan and fellow solicitor Lilias Glen.

“The new acquisition will enable us to offer our whole range of services from all of our offices,” he added.

Coles has seen major investment and development since it was taken on by Peter Gibson almost six years ago, opening purposebuilt headquarters in Northallerton and taking on practices in York and Thirsk.

Today the firm is a multidisciplinary agency, with across York and North Yorkshire, Teesside and South Durham.