Knights — one of the UK’s fastest-growing legal and professional services businesses — has joined Legal News Wales as a Community Partner, strengthening its commitment to the Welsh legal and business community following a period of rapid expansion in Cardiff.

The business, which announced its arrival in the capital earlier this year, has grown organically to a 25-strong team (my count is 25 including those to join up to Feb 2026) in a matter of months, ahead of the opening of its new permanent office in early 2026.

Its momentum in Wales aligns with a strong financial update for the six months to 31 October 2025, with the Group reporting:

• 30% increase in revenue to £103.2m
• 12% rise in underlying profit before tax to £16.4m
• A continued increase in senior hires across its now 1,350-strong national team

For Knights, Cardiff has rapidly become one of its most compelling growth stories of the year — not through acquisition, but through an influx of local talent actively seeking a different way of working.

A culture people didn’t believe existed — until they joined

When speaking with Knights CEO and founder, David Beech, at its recent Cardiff Breakfast event, one theme came up repeatedly: surprise. As David said:

“People come in and say, ‘It sounds too good to be true.’ They’ve come from siloed environments, so a genuinely collaborative, friendly and low-ego culture feels unbelievable at first. But after a few months, they become part of it. That’s been the joy of watching Cardiff grow.”

David describes the Wales office as Knights’ most exciting organic growth story to date — a testament to both the talent in the region and the culture the business has deliberately protected. He explained:

“We’ve now seen the first 25 people join and flourish. We want the next 25. There’s nothing stopping us — the scale of this city is a big opportunity, both in business and private wealth.”

A major part of that culture is Knights’ youth academy model, with nearly 400 of its 1,400 colleagues being paralegals or trainees who are coached and supported by a nationwide team of 600 experienced professionals. Training contracts are offered exclusively to internal talent, reflecting a long-term investment ethos.

David explained:

“We nurture our own people. It’s part of creating a modern, scalable legal business — and now is absolutely the right time for this model, particularly with the shift to AI, new training routes and the pace of technological change.”

‘Wales just gets it’: A region embracing trust and team-first thinking

For James Christacos, Client Services Director and the senior leader supporting the Cardiff launch, Knights’ early success in Wales didn’t require pushing people to change their mindset — quite the opposite. When our Editor spoke to James at the Cardiff launch event in November, he said:

“The culture here is inherently collaborative. People in Wales want to work together.

“Add to that a model built on trust and freedom — not targets — and they’ve absolutely embraced it.”

James noted that lawyers often celebrate the idea of ‘no targets’ before panicking about how performance is measured without them. Knights’ approach is simple: data without pressure, quality over hours, and value over volume:

“We help people understand financial literacy, valuing their time, and turning work into cash. But we don’t dictate targets. Their value is also in the opportunities they open for others — that’s what makes a one-team culture real.”

He added that from the first day in Wales, that culture has been visible:

“On day one, someone invited a colleague to meet an advisor they’d never met — no territorialism, no ‘my client’ behaviour. It’s miles apart from traditional firms.”

The result for James is ‘a level of cultural alignment higher than any other region [he] has worked in’.

A new permanent Cardiff office and accelerating growth

Knights is close to finalising its permanent Cardiff base, with the fit-out expected to take around 12 weeks once contracts are complete. As James told Legal News Wales:

“We should be able to announce it early next year. The physical presence will accelerate growth even further — many lawyers wanted to see the office before making the move, so we’re expecting another wave.”

The Cardiff team will continue to benefit from cross-office integration, spending time in Bristol and other locations to embed themselves into Knights’ wider structure — reinforcing that the culture they experience locally is consistent across the Group.

Purpose in practice: Community, ESG and Wales as a ‘nation, not a region’

Knights’ approach to ESG is nationally structured but locally delivered. Through its long-running 4oC (For Our Community) programme, colleagues are encouraged to give four hours a month to charities or community initiatives that matter to them, as James explained:

“What’s right for Oxford might not be right for Cardiff. We empower people to support the causes that resonate with them — whether that’s an office-wide initiative or something personal.”

Crucially, Knights recognises Wales as a nation, not just another region within a wider map.

“We’ve invested in Welsh people — people who live and breathe this place,” he emphasises. “We’re guided by them on how to contribute to Wales’ economic, social and community priorities. You feel that connection more strongly here than anywhere else.”

Knights x Legal News Wales

As Community Partners, Knights will support Legal News Wales’ mission to connect, celebrate and elevate Wales’ legal and professional services community.

Their arrival marks more than a new office — it’s a shift toward a modern, team-orientated legal model in one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities, as David offered a clear message to the market:

“If you want to take your career as far as you can and realise your full potential in a collaborative culture with nothing in your way — come and have a look. Call me. My number’s on LinkedIn.”

Knights: We’re different, it’s deliberate

Knights is a listed, UK based legal and professional services business, operating from 32 locations nationwide, with a one team approach.

For more than a decade, we have done things differently. In 2012, we established our platform as one of the first law firms to transition from a traditional partnership model to a corporate structure, with a premium service.

This innovative approach allows us to reinvest our profits into our people, processes, and technology.

We work with a diverse range of clients, including global brands, FTSE 100 companies, private businesses, and individuals, to deliver professional services with speed, accessibility, and clear communication.

One team, with you

Knights unique structure and culture attracts and retains talented people who work as one team, allowing clients and its people to access Knights’ combined expertise to create outstanding results.

Knights national approach, delivered with a regional focus, allows us to combine local knowledge with the full resource and capability of a joined-up national team. Our extensive network enables us to build and retain deep local relationships with proximity to our clients.

Through organic growth and acquisition, we are committed to expanding our geographic breadth and service portfolio.

For more information on life at Knights, click here.