Business

Reasons to Celebrate the Last Decade for Interim Partners

Published

6 years ago

March 26, 2020

Interim Partners has become one of the largest suppliers of interim managers throughout the UK. Over the past decade, it has achieved unprecedented success, enabling the business to expand on an international level.

Today, the brand operates globally and has over 50 employees working within the company. Here, we’ll look at some of their key achievements over the past decade that have enabled them to become one of the largest interim suppliers worldwide.

How it all started

Interim Partners was set up in 2003 by Doug Baird. It was designed to offer exceptional interim managers to distressed, private equity backed and leveraged businesses. Now, the company offers a wider range of solutions, such as IR35 private sector advice. They now support both the public and the private sector.

As well as their excellent work to deliver experienced interim staff to businesses, the brand also focuses on giving back to the community. They even launched an employee volunteer program in their Harrogate and London branches in 2015. They have helped numerous charities since they began and continue to fundraise and help out the local community.

A breakdown of the brands achievements

Over the past decade, Interim Partners has racked up a number of awards and achievements. These include:

Director of the year finalist – Doug Baird
Entrepreneur of the year finalist – Doug Baird
Number one provider of Interim managers
14^th best small company to work for
New London office

In 2011, Doug Baird was nominated as a Young Director of the year finalist by the IoD. The following year in 2012, he became a finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Ernst and Young. The same year, Interim Partners was awarded Investors in People – Silver Standard.

A year on in 2013, the company went on to become listed as the Number One provider of Interim Managers by the Institute of Interim Management. This was one of the brands most prestigious awards to date.

In 2014, the company also ranked as the 14^th best small business to work for by the Great Place to Work. Their impressive success led to a new office being opened in London in 2016. In 2017, they once again won the Number One Provider of Interim Managers by the Institute of Interim Management.

These are just some of the most notable awards the company has won since it started. As we enter into a new decade, the brand continues to go from strength to strength. Businesses today require more flexible options such as interim managers. No other company in the sector has achieved the same level of success as Interim Partners, so quickly.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

6 days ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.