Netprotocol | From Legal IT Startup to Trusted Cybersecurity Partner

Netprotocol at 20: From Legal IT Startup to Trusted Cybersecurity Partner

4 min read.

News Article

4 February 2020

In 2020, Netprotocol celebrated 20 years of delivering cutting-edge IT consultancy for law firms and regulated industries across the UK. Founded by Mike Batters and Paul Walker, the business began with a simple but ambitious vision: to provide more than just software. They set out to deliver secure, resilient IT solutions that would help clients work smarter, safer and more efficiently. With a combined 50+ years of legal IT experience, Mike and Paul took a leap of faith, creating a self-funded consultancy dedicated to the unique challenges of law firms. Two decades later, Netprotocol has grown into a trusted name in legal IT services, renowned for its cybersecurity expertise, vendor partnerships and tailored infrastructure solutions

Building Netprotocol: A Legal IT Pioneer

Back in 2000, the legal sector was in urgent need of reliable, secure IT systems. From the very start, Netprotocol positioned itself as more than a technology reseller — it was a strategic IT partner.

One of the company’s very first clients was the high-profile London law firm Lee & Thompson, representing some of the UK’s best-known celebrities. Tasked with relocating their IT systems, Netprotocol delivered a solution so robust that, two decades later, the partnership remains strong.

As Rob Hilton, Head of IT at Lee & Thompson, noted:

“For the first time in my career, I can now say with confidence that we can both access and restore any data that has passed through our IT systems, almost instantly. This is truly ground-breaking in terms of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.”

This early success cemented Netprotocol’s reputation in legal IT — a reputation built on trust, technical knowledge and results.

Milestones on the Journey

2005 – Netprotocol opened its first office and expanded its team.
2009 – Two high-security UK data centres were established.
2010 – Partnerships formed with Extreme Networks and Proofpoint, strengthening cybersecurity capabilities.
2012 – Strategic partnership with Everything Voice, creating a unique proposition that combined IT infrastructure with business communications.
2014 – Achieved £1 million turnover and expanded into the education sector.
2015 onwards – Year-on-year growth of 20%, while remaining 100% financially independent.

Expanding Beyond Legal IT

Whilst education and the legal sectors remain at the heart of Netprotocol, the firm has successfully diversified into other highly regulated industries. These sectors share the same critical needs:

Cybersecurity resilience
Data storage and disaster recovery
Network reliability and performance

This diversification led to the launch of dedicated divisions, ensuring every client receives specialist, tailored support.

The Secret to 20 Years of Success

So, what’s been the driving force behind two decades of growth? According to the founders, it comes down to three core principles:

Relationships first – Strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with clients and vendors alike.
Quality over speed – “Do the job well, do it once, and do it properly.”
Staying ahead of change – Anticipating IT challenges, from early adoption of multi-factor authentication in 2005 to advanced cybersecurity in the cloud era.

As Paul Walker explains:

“Every decision we make starts with how we can add value. That’s what’s kept us relevant for 20 years.”

And while the journey hasn’t always been easy, Mike Batters credits a mix of resilience, belief, and a strong support network — plus a good deal of coffee.

Looking Ahead: The Next 20 Years

The future of IT consultancy is evolving faster than ever. With AI, advanced cybersecurity threats, and cloud transformation reshaping the way businesses operate, Netprotocol is determined to remain at the forefront.

“The pressure to be useful, relevant, and reliable hasn’t changed — if anything, it’s increased,” says Mike. “Our mission remains the same: to protect our clients, help them adapt, and ensure their technology works for them, not against them.”