Guildford law firm Setfords reaches 15,000 five-star reviews

The firm, which was founded in Guildford in 2006 by Guy Setford and later joined by his cousin Chris, has grown from a small office with two people into one of the UK's largest and fastest-growing legal businesses. Nearly 200 people now work at the firm's purpose-built headquarters in the town, supporting a nationwide network of more than 650 lawyers. Revenue in its most recent financial year was £67 million.

That growth has been recognised nationally. Setfords is the fastest-growing firm in The Lawyer's Top 100, the only law firm to feature in the Financial Times' Europe's Long-Term Growth Champions, and has been named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for three consecutive years. It was named New Law Business of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2025.

Guy Setford, co-CEO, said: "When we started the business, we wanted to build something close to home, close to our families. Being in Guildford meant we could grow the business without sacrificing the things that really mattered to us. That's been true from the beginning and it's still true now."

The 15,000-review milestone was reached just two years after the firm passed 10,000. Setfords operates a consultant model in which experienced lawyers run their own practices with support from the Guildford-based team, which handles compliance, technology, finance, and marketing – including a new business development engine that delivers more than £20m in annual work to its lawyers.

Chris Setford, co-CEO, said: "We're proud that nearly 200 people come to work at our headquarters in Guildford every day. Our technology is built here, the operations team is here, the support that our 650 lawyers rely on every day comes from this building. That matters to us. We've always believed you can build an ambitious, fast-growing business in Guildford, and I think we've shown that's true."