Forbes Solicitors

Forbes Solicitors acts for businesses, public sector organizations and individuals from offices across Lancashire, Manchester, Leeds and London. Its registered office is at Walton Summit near Preston, and it has further offices in Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Manchester, Salford, Leeds and London. The work is split into commercial, public sector and private client divisions, covering corporate, commercial litigation, employment, insurance, social housing, business crime, clinical negligence, family, and wills and probate.

A managing partner who trained at the firm

Pauline Wild is managing partner and a designated member of the LLP. She joined Forbes as a trainee and took on the top role around 2022, according to the firm. “We’re an independent firm with 200 years of heritage behind us but an even brighter future ahead,” she said in July 2025, when the firm announced 15 promotions, six of them to partner.

Turnover up 12%

Turnover rose 12% from £22.9m to £25.6m in the year to 30 April 2025, according to the LLP’s accounts at Companies House. Profit before members’ remuneration grew from £4.7m to £6.2m. The firm employed an average of 346 staff, excluding members, made up of 198 fee earners and 148 support staff, alongside 38 members.

In March 2026 Forbes acquired e3 employment law, a boutique employment firm with offices in Manchester and Liverpool, bringing three partners: Simon Ost, Nick Jones and Dan Bickerstaffe. “Our vision is to be the number one regional law firm with a national reach,” Wild said when the deal was announced. The firm then described itself as having 64 partners, nearly 400 staff and 11 offices.

Ranked in crime, employment and fraud

Chambers UK 2026 ranks seven Forbes departments. Three are in Band 1: crime and employment in the North West, and financial crime across the regions. Its North West real estate team (up to £10m) and social housing team are in Band 2, and its social housing practice in the North East and Yorkshire and its defendant personal injury work nationally are in Band 3.