Dan Flounders is joining Jacksons to head up the firm’s Corporate and Commercial team.
The new head of Corporate and Commercial at a North East law firm believes changes to capital gains tax and business asset disposal relief announced in the last Budget have accelerated SMEs’ succession plans and entrepreneurs’ business exits.
Dan Flounders, who joins Jacksons Law Firm from Knights (formerly Archers) in Stockton, is looking forward to the challenge of growing the Corporate and Commercial team.
At the same time, Dan, who has a strong reputation as a Corporate and Commercial legal adviser, is also relishing the opportunity to support younger solicitors in developing their careers in the successful way he has carried out himself.
Dan anticipates increased activity in the team in the first quarter of 2025, as business owners respond to recent changes in the autumn Budget, in which adjustments to capital gains tax and business asset disposal relief (formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief) were announced.
As a result, he says a number of SMEs have accelerated their succession plans and more entrepreneurs are looking for an exit strategy for their business, before changes with adverse tax implications come into effect.
There is driving demand for expert legal advice on structuring business sales and acquisitions in a tax efficient manner, while ensuring a smooth transition post sale.
“Businesses are keen to act before rules tighten or tax advantages diminish further, meaning we’re supporting more clients with strategies to navigate and accelerate succession plans,” Dan says.
Dan trained at Archer’s Law in Stockton and quickly rose through the ranks, working his way up to partner.
The company sold out to Knights in 2021, and Dan remained there, until the opportunity arose to head up the Corporate and Commercial team at Jacksons.
“I’m still quite young and always wanted to get back into a regional practice and have an involvement in the day-to-day running and strategic decisions being taken by a firm,” he said.
“Jacksons was a firm I had a lot of respect for – and I’ve been involved in a number of transactions with them throughout my career.
“If I was ever going to leave to go anywhere else it was going to be to come here.”
Dan says it is pleasing to see the firm has a lot of younger partners looking to move Jacksons forward over the next five or ten years.
“With my profile in the region, I hope to be able to bring in work and contacts and grow the team – that’s the ultimate goal,” he added, complimenting Jacksons for “maintaining their roots in the North East”.
“Jacksons are training young people and bringing them through the ranks, and they have many people who have trained there progress to partnership,” he noted.
“I am looking forward to working with the younger workforce who are where I was 10 years ago, taking them on the journey I have been on and growing the team organically.”
Dan is also looking forward to the challenge of working and acting for local SMEs across the region, with Jacksons also having an office in Newcastle.
“I looked at it and thought, ‘it’s an opportunity I have to be part of something and make an impact’, he said.
“I think the key attraction for me is the planned growth.
“I want to be involved in the strategic decisions of the business, and I want to feel like I’m making an impact.”
Erica Turner, head of legal at Jacksons Law Firm, said: “We would like to extend a warm welcome to Dan, who brings with him a wealth of experience and a formidable reputation in Corporate and Commercial law.
“Dan’s appointment aligns with the strategic growth plans we have in place for Jacksons over the next five to ten years, and the ambitions we have around providing holistic legal services solutions for SMEs across our region.
“Dan’s experience, rising through the ranks from trainee to partner in a busy law firm, will also be a huge asset to the young people he will be working with in the Corporate and Commercial team – and we look forward to seeing where he takes them.”
Current head of the Corporate and Commercial team Tony Wentworth, will continue to provide his valuable experience to the busy team.
He said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Dan to the team.
“The firm’s focus over the past couple of years has been on building for the future, remoulding our leadership around a young and ambitious team that will steer and grow the business for many years to come.
“We’re already a long way down the road to achieving that and Dan’s appointment to head up the Corporate and Commercial team is the latest piece in the jigsaw.
“It gives the next generation the opportunity to continue to develop our already highly experienced and expert team and to continue to grow one of Jacksons’ key legal service areas.”
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