Watkins & Gunn, the law firm that puts people first

A reality check: Transforming property transactions in Wales

Conveyancers in Wales have told Legal News Wales they want to see transformation in property transactions - and are keen to collaborate to progress. While the property sector in England seems to be moving slightly faster, we are aware of persistent myths around connectivity in Wales and perhaps a misunderstanding about what can be achieved today to help all stakeholders move forward, so we called in the experts.  In this episode, our host, Emma Waddingham (Legal News Wales) speaks to Angela Hesketh, Head of Government and Public Affairs at PEXA, and Sally-Anne Skinner, CEO at Ogi - the connectivity specialists in Wales. They discussed why connectivity is not the blocker, and why it's important for conveyancers in Wales to join the pilot scheme to help build confidence fast. They discuss: • current state of Welsh connectivity and what it enables; • what PEXA does for funds, title and fraud control; • differences in England and Wales and why mindset matters; • costs, access routes and low-risk starting points for small firms; • digital identity as a near-term, high-impact change; • practical pilots: cash purchases, lender onboarding, evidence, and; • Legal News Wales' stakeholder engagement exercises: who needs to be at the table and why co-ordination wins. If you found this conversation useful, please subscribe and share it with your colleagues. You can also join our insights and events community at legalnewswales.com for more resources to help you build a resilient, future focused legal practice For more information and signposting, visit the insights [https://www.legalnewswales.com/features/?category_id%5B%5D=600] section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

Watkins & Gunn, the law firm that puts people first

What does it really mean to embed wellbeing into a law firm — not as an initiative, but as a way of working? In this special Awards Winners episode of the Legal Sector Resilience Podcast, host and Legal News Wales Editor Emma Waddingham speaks with Watkins & Gunn, winners of the Wellbeing Strategy of the Year Award 2025, to explore how a values-led approach to wellbeing has become central to the firm’s culture, leadership and long-term success. Joining the conversation are Clive Thomas, Managing Director; Katie O’Connell, Solicitor and lead of the firm’s Wellness & Gunn initiative; and Emma Taylor, Solicitor and member of the wellbeing team. For Watkins & Gunn, wellbeing is not a reaction to pressure — it is a deliberate strategic choice. A model for the sector This episode offers practical insight for firms wondering how to move beyond wellbeing weeks and tick-box policies — and toward something more meaningful. Watkins & Gunn’s message is clear: start with values, listen deeply, share ownership, and pace change sustainably. For more information and signposting, visit the insights [https://www.legalnewswales.com/features/?category_id%5B%5D=600] section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

Legal Recruitment Resilience in Wales: Will 2026 be a reset year?

Welcome to the Legal Sector Resilience Podcast, brought to you by Legal News Wales.  In this episode, Emma is joined by Karen Jones, Director at TSR Legal Recruitment, for their annual end-of-year conversation examining recruitment trends in Wales and what law firms and lawyers should be preparing for in the year ahead. As the sector looks towards 2026, they reflect on the challenges of skills shortages, changing candidate expectations, competition across regions, and the growing importance of culture, communication and long-term planning.  To read our Reframing Recruitment Roundtable coverage - mentioned in the podcast, click here. [https://www.legalnewswales.com/features/roundtable-reframing-legal-recruitment-in-wales/] The Podcast Legal News Wales [https://www.legalnewswales.com] Editor Emma Waddingham speaks with trusted voices from across the legal sector to explore what it really takes to build stronger, smarter and more sustainable legal practices in Wales. Each episode shares practical insight, lived experience and forward-thinking perspectives on leadership, growth, recruitment, technology, finance, compliance, culture, diversity, client care and more.  Together, we look beyond short-term pressures to examine how law firms can build long-term resilience — not just for their businesses, but for their people, their clients and the communities they serve. For more information and signposting, visit the insights [https://www.legalnewswales.com/features/?category_id%5B%5D=600] section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

Growing a Welsh law firm with purpose: from strategy to success (Legal News Awards Special)

Awards don’t build resilient firms—clarity, culture, and client value do. This episode, our Host, Emma Waddingham, sat down with Managing Partner Fflur Jones and Partner Owen John at Darwin Gray Solicitors, winners of the Legal News Wales Business Growth Award 2025, to unpack how a simple, shared strategy powered 105% revenue growth for the law firm in two years, without losing the warmth that holds a team together.  We explore the choices behind the law firm's rise: embracing Welsh identity and bilingual delivery, investing in SEO and public tenders to attract the right work, and expanding services where clients truly need support—from governance to wills and probate. We dig into the firm's North Wales story: how a commitment to local presence resulting in a strong commercial foothold, how partnerships with Bangor University and sector networks unlocked opportunity, and what’s changing across food and drink, manufacturing and infrastructure. Along the way, we get practical about value and excellence for cross‑border clients—why responsiveness, quality and fair pricing travel better than postcodes—and why Welsh language services are a strategic capability, not a marketing flourish. In order to understand how Darwin Gray attracted the attention of the Legal News Awards judges and showcased significant growth, Emma asked Fflur and Owen to share how the firm has utilised technology to support its business plans - such as AI in property workflows and the firm's trials with advanced tools like Thomson Reuters’ CoCounsel, plus the guardrails needed to protect data, train juniors, and preserve judgement.  We also look at thought leadership as growth engine: the Governance Wales conferences, a pan‑Wales HR network, and how convening the right rooms leads to meaningful instructions. Through it all runs a theme of growth with purpose—using clear communication, CSR, and steady pacing to scale culture, not just headcount. Subscribe for more conversations on legal sector resilience, share this episode with a colleague who cares about sustainable growth, and leave a review to tell us how your law firm is adapting and what’s working for you right now. For more information and signposting, visit the insights [https://www.legalnewswales.com/features/?category_id%5B%5D=600] section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

Making law commercial: a new era for legal costs

A merger driven by values, not vanity. We sit down with David Hughes, Martin Walsh, and Kathryn Huxter to reveal how KE Costs and Paramount Legal Costs became Peak Costs—and why a people-first, “professional but never corporate” approach can raise standards across legal costs work in Wales and beyond. From authentic culture to practical service design, this conversation explores how specialist support strengthens access to justice and helps firms stay resilient under pressure. We unpack the real reasons behind the merger—shared values, complementary niche strengths, and a belief that relationships beat transactions. The team lifts the lid on building a remote-first organisation with local presence, showing how flexibility lets them recruit the best people, stay close to clients across Wales, and deliver faster, sharper advice on everything from costs budgeting to recoveries and negotiations. We also dive into training and progression: in-person learning days, expert mentoring, and a forthcoming costs apprenticeship scheme designed to open the profession to people who choose it by design, not by accident. Expect candid reflections on risk, integration, and independence. The Peak Costs team explains how they kept quality front and centre, why they’re fiercely independent, and how collaboration across the costs community can push the field forward without diluting standards.  For Welsh law firms navigating fixed recoverable costs, tight margins, and client care demands, this is a blueprint for using specialist costs expertise as strategic infrastructure—not an afterthought.  Discover what Peak Costs means for your legal team. Visit peakcosts.com [https://www.peakcosts.com/] Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.  For more information and signposting, visit the insights [https://www.legalnewswales.com/features/?category_id%5B%5D=600] section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.