Kent and London-based law firm Whitehead Monckton has transitioned to an employee ownership trust.
The firm has offices in Maidstone, Canterbury, Tenterden, Ramsgate and Canary Wharf, and was created in 1968 when two Kent law firms merged. It opened a Canterbury office in 2013 and merged with Dockland Solicitors in 2016 for a London presence.
Effective from last week, a majority of the firm’s shares have been transferred to the Whitehead Monckton Employee Ownership trustee. It will hold the shares on behalf of the firm’s 121 employees.
While the current leadership will remain in place, the new structure will give employees a stronger voice in the organisation through a new employee council. The members of this will report to the firm’s new trust’s board.
Christopher Longden, managing director of Whitehead Monckton, said: “The directors have always regarded themselves as custodians of the business with each generation of business owners growing the business for the benefit of the next generation. The employee ownership trust will keep our firm’s ownership, people and interests right here in the Kent community.”
Whitehead Monckton offers its employees a range of benefits, such as a death-in-service benefit, enhanced sick pay, financial advice, a bonus scheme, private medical insurance, an employee assistance programme, mental health first aiders and champions, discounted gym memberships, a bikes-for-work scheme, hybrid working, long-service awards, and an annual leave purchase scheme.
