15 Minutes with... Darryl Cooke
We speak to gunnercooke Founder Darryl Cooke about what’s in store for one of the UK’s most exciting entrepreneurial firms — on track to top £100m this year — and why his priority is to harness this success to support communities
From a conversation in Costa Coffee, to a solo Manchester office painted by his then young sons, gunnercooke has grown to a staff of almost 100 employees, 500 lawyers and 40,000 clients. Operating from 14 offices across the UK, Germany, Austria and US, the Top-75 professional services firm is now one of the fastest growing entrepreneurial fee shares in the world. The firm has won more than 80+ industry awards, and notably for its charitable work via the foundation and the beautiful House of Books & Friends on King Street, Manchester. This year, gunnercooke will develop even further, with big plans for Private Equity, Crescendo (a network to support early-stage business founders), and the recent launch of specialist sport division, gunnercookeSport headed up by former Chief Executive of Millwall Football Club and Director of the English Football League, Steve Kavanagh.
gunnercooke is celebrating its 15th year and has seen incredible growth. Looking back, what were the early days like? How did the firm begin?
I really believe in the work that lawyers do. I believe in the rule of law, which protects our democracy. I once sat on the board of a large UK law firm and one day the meeting discussed how to increase the profits for the top partners, including how to get rid of the lower performing partners. There was no discussion of client service or how to win new clients or doing things better and winning loyalty. Or how to improve the lives of their lawyers so they would give a better service to clients. I realised then that there had to be another way; that was the start of gunnercooke. It gives me great pleasure to see lawyers and professionals enjoying their work and living fulfilled lives. At gunnercooke, we call this approach ‘designing your life’. Who would want to get to the end of their life and not wished that they had designed it themselves? At gunnercooke, you can do that.
When we started someone said to me: “You can be the best, or you can be different”. On the first day it is impossible to be the best, he was right, so we were different. Now we try to be the best and to be different. Constant improvement is the key.
Was there a particular moment when you felt the business truly took off? What were the key factors that propelled its growth?
The firm took off almost immediately. The model is very simple: lawyers with a minimum of 10,000 hours of experience can join to ‘set up and scale their practice’. We support their business development, provide certainty over fees, offer a guarantee on service, and they become part of a culture where they can network, collaborate and socialise together, backed by marketing, IT, finance, HR, business development and coaching services. We have many partners who have been with us since the beginning and a great many that recently joined, most recently in Chicago.
House of Books & Friends
The gunnercooke foundation has expanded during this time. How has it evolved, and what impact has it had? Where do you see it heading next?
Purpose is part of our DNA and second nature. One of the ways that we do that is to ensure that the head of the foundation, Laura Jones, sits on our board and talks to me all the time. She has a business background and a great ability to get things done and I support as much as I can. Laura is supported by a brilliant team who are constantly finding new ways to support the charities we work with.
The foundation was launched because I wanted the business to focus on our people and improving their lives, our clients and improving the service to them, and our society and how we can help those less privileged. Within a square mile of every business there is every challenge possible: it is a microcosm of every inequality that we face throughout the country - disability, a lack of opportunity, old age, mental health, loneliness, poverty. We can’t sit there and seriously think that it is the problem of someone else or the problem of government alone.
Your sons are now becoming part of the business. How does it feel to see them step into the gunnercooke world? What will their roles be?
To be honest, it’s very strange — but also very wonderful. It has brought us even closer as a family. No doubt we will have disagreements! At the offset, we sat down and developed our very own set of simple practical courtesy rules. Their role in the business is as Chiefs of Staff. They will work with Lucy, our Global Head of Operational Excellence, to identify projects to work on that will improve the business.
You host The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, which has featured some amazing guests. What do you hope listeners take away from each episode?
We need to encourage good leadership and business leaders need to become the antidote to the ills of society; they and their people can look after the community around them. We launched the podcast to share stories and insights from some of the world’s most inspiring leaders and hopefully inspire others to make a change. Leadership is everything. Bringing people with you is everything. Without it you are just going for a walk.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders who want to make a meaningful impact?
Just do it. Once you begin you will never look back. Find the causes that motivate you and do it.
Hungry for more?
Read up on the latest news, delicious eats, travel treats and seasonal style trends in FEATURES, or browse a curated selection of our FEATURED PRODUCTS, meander through our guide to the finest things to do in Cheshire and beyond in WHATS ON or partake in our COMPETITIONS.
About The CHESHIRE Magazine
We are the definitive guide to luxury lifestyle in the North West. Latest news, delicious eats, travel treats and seasonal style trends. The Cheshire Magazine is the largest luxury lifestyle title for the North West of England, dropping directly through the letterboxes of VIP subscribers from the Wirral to Greater Manchester plus all the villages and towns in between and digitally available as a subscription in print and digital on issuu.com worldwide. We specialise in connecting luxury brands to likeminded consumers.
If you are interested on how you can partner with The CHESHIRE Magazine, read more about us. Or get in touch to find out more about marketing, featuring or partnering with the Cheshire Magazine in print or online.
