Awarded following a rigorous independent assessment, Lexcel accreditation is held by fewer than 20% of law firms in England and Wales regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

 

The accreditation demonstrates that Wilkinson Woodward – a long-established practice celebrating its 140th anniversary this year – meets high standards across all aspects of its operations, including client care, risk management, people management, financial management, information management, and file and case management.

 

The achievement follows a firm-wide project led by Risk and Compliance Manager Clare Ashby, who joined Wilkinson Woodward in April 2025 with the primary objective of securing Lexcel accreditation. Drawing on more than 12 years’ experience of obtaining and maintaining the accreditation at previous firms, she worked closely with colleagues across the business to prepare for the assessment process.

 

Laura Kurowski, Managing Director at Wilkinson Woodward, said: “Achieving Lexcel accreditation is a significant milestone for Wilkinson Woodward and reflects the hard work, professionalism and commitment of Clare and our entire team. We are proud to have achieved this recognition and believe it will give our clients confidence that they are receiving top quality service from a firm that is committed to best practice.”

 

She added: “While achieving accreditation is an important achievement, it is not the end of the journey. Lexcel requires ongoing assessment and continuous improvement, and we remain committed to maintaining the high standards our clients expect and deserve.”

 

Lexcel was introduced by the Law Society in 1998 and is recognised as one of the legal sector’s leading quality standards. Accredited firms are assessed against a range of criteria covering client care, compliance, risk management and operational performance, with annual reviews helping to ensure standards continue to be maintained and improved.