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Changing faces

04 September 2015 / Gary Carrington
Issue: 7666 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Gary Carrington considers how non-lawyer senior managers & non-executive directors can bring something new to the board

Over the past few years we’ve witnessed a rise in the number of UK law firms and partnerships appointing non-lawyer managers and non-executive directors (NEDs) to the board and this trend looks set to continue.

Non-lawyers can bring a whole host of business expertise and insight to help grow a firm that are not within the skill sets of a lawyer. For example, they could provide expert assistance with finance, marketing, training, or even strategic direction and growth.

Acquisition

If a law firm decides on a new strategy to grow through acquisition, for example, it is vital that a senior decision maker has experience of raising acquisition finance, due diligence and post integration strategy in making the decision to acquire another law firm. They will have a practical understanding of how a law firm runs in a given legal sector but not necessarily experience in that wider context. This is where the benefits of a non-lawyer come into his

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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