MORE than 30 jobs have been created in the North-East and scores more nationwide through the expansion of a discount book company, supported by a regional law firm.

Mincoffs has been working with discount book store, The Works, since 2008, and has helped the retailer expand nationally by advising on new leases, assignments and renewals.

Last year, The Works bucked the economic downturn by opening 39 stores throughout the UK, including a further five in the North- East – in Durham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Stockton – taking its total number of stores to over 250, with plans to expand and renew current leases throughout the region.

The Works most recently opened a store in The Gates shopping centre, Durham, creating five jobs.

Mincoffs, based in Newcastle, has been The Works’ legal and property advisor through a team led by commercial property partner Phil Dean.

The Works’ retail director Kerry Hughes, said: “Phil Dean and his team at Mincoffs have been invaluable advising The Works on all aspects of the leases and in legal dealings on the properties, especially at a time when so many other bookshops are struggling to survive.

“We are pleased that we are able to create jobs in Durham and are continuing to grow.

We are looking for opportunities to open more stores and create more jobs across the North-East in 2010.”

Mr Dean said: “We have continued to enjoy our great relationship with The Works stores following the transfer from The Works Retail in 2008 and are pleased to have played a part in the management of their portfolio.

“We are excited to be working with them on further expansion plans in 2010. It’s great to see so many more of The Works’ stores open up across the region and this is one story that really has a happy ending.”

Until October last year, Mincoffs was part of Teesside and Tyneside two-practice law firm Mincoff Jacksons. The merger, which took effect from October 2008 and was designed to help the firm break into the region’s ‘Big 5’ was dissolved after 12 months.