Manchester-based Abbleys Solicitors has launched a new data breach department as part of a wider expansion, alongside its move into new offices in the city.
The move reflects ongoing growth at the firm, as it takes on additional areas of work.
The development follows a rise in data breach claims across the UK, with high-profile incidents in recent years leading to large group actions involving thousands of claimants, including high-profile recent cases linked to breaches at Capita, Microsoft and the Ministry of Defence, among many others.
Abbleys Solicitors has built its practice around litigation and dispute resolution, acting for individuals in complex civil disputes and high-value claims mostly against large organisations of all types.
The firm said it had seen a significant rise in demand for specialist legal support in cases involving personal data, with enquiries in this area increasing substantially.
The introduction of the data breach department marks a new area of focus for the firm as it responds to that demand and expands its litigation offering.
Thomas Hulme, principal solicitor at Abbleys Solicitors, said: “This is an important step in the development of the firm. We have built a strong foundation in litigation and dispute resolution, and expanding into data breach work is a natural progression of that.
“We have seen a clear increase in the number of individuals seeking advice in relation to the handling of their personal data, reflected in our own enquiries, which have risen over the past year.
“It is important that people can access specialist legal support in this area, particularly as these types of issues become more common. The move to new offices puts us in a strong position to support clients across these areas as the firm continues to grow.”
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Abbleys Solicitors, which also acts in complex litigation and medical negligence matters, said the expansion forms part of its wider plans to develop its litigation practice from its Manchester base.