McKenzie Bell Solicitors

McKenzie Bell is the largest and one of the oldest established legal firms in the city of Sunderland and can trace its origins back to 1820. The firm's main office is situated in an imposing purpose built office in John Street in the heart of Sunderland's commercial area. There is also a branch office in Washington and Blackhall. McKenzie Bell is the only firm in the city to feature in Legal 500's Directory of the top 25 law firms in the North East (1994).

Our aim as a practice is to provide a high quality, comprehensive legal service to both private and commercial clients. The firm recognises that clients need help and advice on a range of legal matters. We are able to meet this need with specialist advice from our various departments and, at the same time, as Sunderland's largest firm we can offer a comprehensive range of services.

Specialisation is one way of ensuring the quality of our service by concentration of our skills on particular areas, so that we can offer expert help. All of the firm's five partners are members of specialist panels established by the Law Society.

In addition, we have a comprehensive, ongoing training programme throughout our organisation, which is designed to ensure that we deliver high quality services. In 1993 McKenzie Bell recieved a 'Vision in Business Award' sponsored by local businesses for investing in people and a commendation for outstanding enterprise.

The firm is proud to have been awarded a franchise to conduct Legal Aid work on 1st August 1994. This is a system established by the Legal Aid Board to ensure that firms conducting legal aid work operate to nationally defined quality standards. McKenzie Bell was the first firm in the Northern region to submit an application following the successful introduction throughout 1993 of many quality control systems.