Weightmans unveils new structure and strategy, promotes nine to partner
Weightmans has put in place a new structure and five-year strategy following a major strategic review. The law firm has also appointed nine new partners.
It said the new plan was “a culmination of months of consultation, research and analysis, and sees many at the firm take on new roles, including the launch of a new Board structure”.
As part of the changes it has introduced a new client relationships arm, encompassing six key client markets: Insurance, Public Bodies, Corporates, Owner Managed Businesses, Built Environment and Private Client. The firm said it would seek to provide a full service to the customers within those markets.
The board changes include:
- Senior Partner Dan Cutts taking on the role of Director of Client Relationships alongside his current position.
- Andrew Cooper, former Head of Public Sector, becoming Director of Legal Operations – Claims.
- Stuart Jones, former Head of Employment, becoming Director of Legal Operations – Litigation, Transaction and Advisory.
- Stuart Whittle taking the role of Director of Business Services.
John Schorah and Tony Cannon remain as Managing Partner and Finance Director respectively.
Weightmans added that it had made a significant financial investment in technology to provide a more efficient service and solutions for clients.
Cutts said: "This was a major consultation that involved staff at all levels. Weightmans has a fantastic portfolio of clients, and in order to continue to deliver value and client satisfaction we are embracing change. The new structure prepares us to face the current challenges in this market head on, in order to optimise efficiency and deliver what the client needs.
"We are embracing new ways of working to truly respond to client and staff requirements - as well as technological advances to futureproof the business, the new structure places more Partners in roles of total client focus and service delivery, enabling the firm to provide a wider scale of services and grow deeper relationships with customers.”
The firm has made up nine associates to partner, which it said was the biggest round of fixed share member promotions in five years.
The new partners and their respective specialist client areas are:
- Dewi Ap Thomas, Regulatory
- Nilesh Bathia, Public Bodies (Healthcare)
- Deborah Edwards, Insurance (Disease)
- James Hough, Public Bodies (Healthcare)
- Keith Jones, Insurance (Disease)
- James Knowles, Private Client (WTTP)
- Alex Marler, Insurance (Speciality)
- Simon Turner, Public Bodies (Healthcare)
- Hannah Walsh, Public Bodies (Local Gov & Emergency Services)
Weightmans and Ward Hadaway recently announced that discussions on a potential merger had been terminated. The tie-up, had it been implemented, would have created an 1,800-strong firm.