THE commercial property department of law firm Mincoffs is heading for another year of growth after overseeing more than £550m of deals so far this year.

The division of the Newcastle firm advised on transactions worth more than £750m last year, and is hoping to exceed that figure after winning a series of high-profile contracts.

Mincoffs has also grown significantly in terms of staff numbers and the size of its premises in Jesmond, as part of an ongoing expansion programme.

Senior partner Howard Gold said the company was now well-placed to challenge some of the region's larger law firms.

"The last year has been one of the most significant in the 60-year history of the firm," he said.

"We have employed 14 new members of staff, including six solicitors, and as a result, even though we only moved into our existing premises two years ago, we had to acquire additional offices adjacent to our premises.

"I believe that the forthcoming year will be even busier than last year when the commercial and corporate department advised on transactions with a value in excess of £750m.

"Property has always been strong at Mincoffs and recently we have enjoyed unprecedented success".

Among transactions already overseen by Mincoffs this year is the recent disposal of part of the business and assets of the Swiss-based Bloomsbury Group to a buyer controlled by the Tchenguiz family for £46m. The deal is believed to be the highest-value sale of its kind in the North-East this year.

The firm has also helped in the AIM flotation of building services group Northern Bear, of Chester-le-Street, County Dur-ham - which also involved the acquisition of five industrial companies for a total value of £12m - and the acquisition of a development property portfolio with a value of more than £200m for Metnor Group.

Mr Gold said Mincoffs had the credentials to become a major player in the North-East law sector.

"The firm in recent years has advised upon a considerable number of high value transactions and I believe Mincoffs are more than capable of competing with the larger law firms in the area," he said.