Legal firm Hatten Wyatt is part of Gravesend’s heritage, having been around for more than 170 years, mainly serving the local community.

It has helped the area grow and prosper in terms of commitment and investment as well as offering jobs.

The Windmill Street offices – thought to be haunted – occupy part of some lovely converted buildings centrally located in the town and employ more than 50 people.

Increased demand for the firm’s services in the past year has meant taking on additional staff.

The company also endeavours to take on a number of students from local schools to help them complete their work experience and, from the firm’s point of view, hopefully find the next rising star.

In terms of staff training, due to the nature of the business, this is heavily regulated making it necessary to follow a process to ensure the standards set are exceeded.

Non-legal employees always have ‘on the job’ training.

Hatten Wyatt is also growing. In the previous few years it has incorporated law firm Morlings based in Maidstone, acquired Nigel Edward & Company and taken over client work from Howard Outred & Co.

It also provides pro bono legal advice in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau’s ‘Advice Together’ service.

While mainly concentrating on serving the local community, there is also a need for legal services in the non-resident Indian community.

As a result, these are exported and imported to and from India via an associated office in Delhi.

The firm has also been a stalwart supporter of local events, sponsoring Gravesend’s Christmas tree, the Paul Greengrass Cinema at The Woodville Halls and the Northfleet Carnival.

The company was also the main stage sponsor of this year's Gravesham Riverside Festival and regularly enters Gravesham in Bloom.

Manager Lisa Cranney said: “We have continually invested our time, expertise and money to support the local and wider community.

“This is sometimes just a bit of fun such as filling our car with balloons.

“Sometimes it is a more serious financial commitment such as investing in sponsorship arrangements or working with organisations and charities such as the ellenor hospice charity and the British Heart Foundation.”

The company has entered The Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are supported by the Messenger, and each entrant gets a free profile in our papers and on our website.

This year’s award sponsors are Dartford council, Gravesham council, Barnes Roffe, Kent Business School (University of Kent), the KM Group (Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger), Lloyds Bank, Thomson Snell and Passmore, Edinburgh House, University of Greenwich and Mid Kent College.

Entries have now closed. The winners will be announced in a few weeks.