A NEW “one-stop” office where clients can obtain a full range of professional advice on legal, accountancy and financial planning issues is to open in west Suffolk next week.

Solicitors firm Rudlings Wakelam is joining with accountants Lovewell Blake LLP and Lovewell Blake Financial Planning Ltd in the new joint office at the Robins Row building, in Hall Street, Long Melford, from January 10.

“We are really looking forward to working with Lovewell Blake in offering clients a complete service under one roof,” said Penny Brice, managing partner of Rudlings Wakelam. “We feel that this is the future for all professional services.”

This view is shared by David Buller, partner of Lovewell Blake, who said the trend towards such co-operation was likely to be welcomed by the financial authorities.

“Clients often bring issues that require expertise across the legal, financial and tax fields and this will now be easier to access,” he said.

Karen Last, consultant with Lovewell Blake Financial Planning, added: “We have identified Long Melford and the surrounding villages as an area not well served with legal and financial services.

“Our existing clients in the area will benefit from our new presence and we are confident many new clients will welcome the level of service, experience and expertise we shall be jointly offering locally.”

Rudlings Wakelam, founded in 1923, has offices in Bury St Edmunds, Brandon and Thetford.

Lovewell Blake can trace its history back more than 150 years and has eight offices covering Norfolk and Suffolk.

Lovewell Blake Financial Planning offers fully independent advice, working on a fee rather than commission basis.