Lincoln Business Celebrates Ten Years Since Launch

Lincoln based private client legal services firm, the HAIG Legal Group, have been celebrating their 10^th anniversary. Launched under the name The Planning Crowd in 2016 the business has grown from 19 staff to a workforce of over 150, with plans already in hand for further expansion. Two of those original employees remain with the group today, working in senior management roles.

The company was launched by founders Andy Townsend, Ian Peace and Helen Claydon with the vision of making estate planning and estate administration available, affordable and accessible to as wide an audience as possible. Even now, ten years later, there are still families who do not believe they have anything to pass on or understand the benefits of having a will or other documents in place. It is these sectors of society who the group are driven to support.

During that first year of trading in 2016 the fledgling company achieved an impressive seven figure turnover and since then, the group has enjoyed strong and steady growth ever since. What was once The Planning Crowd as grown into the HAIG Legal Group, made up of three companies: Simpler Law, Fidelis Legal Services, and Northwood Banks & Co. Each of these businesses are specialists in a different aspect of end-of-life planning and documentation. Simpler Law and Fidelis Legal Services were created to fill a need, while Northwood Banks & Co. was acquired at the end of 2022, adding specialist conveyancing capabilities.

The past decade has seen several challenges and changes for the group, moving to larger premises twice, opening new offices in Leicester and Manchester, and the Covid lockdown to name but three. Not only has the HAIG Legal Group achieved impressive growth over the period, but it has also done so without any external investment. All profits have been reinvested for the future. The group has provided estate planning services for 220,000 clients and are currently managing £1.2 billion of clients’ assets as professional trustees.

“The success of the group, and all group companies, is due in no small part to our employees.” said CEO Andy Townsend, “We believe in our people, supporting them through qualifications, offering industry leading training, and providing a pathway for in-house promotions. Without them we wouldn’t be where we are today. They are as much a part of this ten year anniversary as myself, Ian and Helen.”

To celebrate their 10^th anniversary the HAIG Legal Group threw a black tie ball for all their employees at the Lincoln Hilton Doubletree, in March 2026. Over 100 members of staff enjoyed this spectacular event which also included the employee of 2025 prize giving, and several surprises!

Plans are already well in hand for the next ten years, with the group aiming to double their turnover by the end of the decade. Based on their journey so far they may well exceed expectations. As the tagline they created ten years ago says it’s ‘doing ordinary things extraordinarily well’ which will see them succeed.