Kingsley Napley— James Fulforth, Stephen Parkinson & Anthony Macpherson

Kingsley Napley LLP has announced that James Fulforth, head of the corporate & commercial practice, will be the firm’s new senior partner with effect from 1 May 2023. Current senior partner Stephen Parkinson is retiring at the end of this month as planned after five years in the role and Anthony Macpherson will replace James as the head of the corporate & commercial practice. 

James Fulforth (pictured) joined Kingsley Napley as a partner in 2007 and has led the corporate & commercial practice since 2014. He specialises in advising early-stage companies and startups, entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals on their business interests including funding and structuring issues as well as transactions. He is an advisory board member of Angel Academe, the angel investor group.  

James has also been a member of the Management Board for the last four years and a key driver of the firm’s ambitious five-year growth plan launched in December 2021. Since then the firm has grown to 80 partners and expanded its offering in new specialisms such as Tax Disputes & Investigations, IP Disputes and Restructuring & Insolvency amongst others.

Kingsley Napley managing partner Linda Woolley comments, 'Stephen Parkinson’s are big shoes to fill but James will be a fantastic successor as Senior Partner and I look forward to supporting him with his new responsibilities. Congratulations also to Anthony on his new role who I know will continue to take the team from strength to strength.'

James Fulforth comments, 'I would like to pay tribute to Stephen Parkinson and thank him on the firm’s behalf for all he has done for Kingsley Napley. He is a tough act to follow. My aim is to continue to help the firm achieve its huge potential, building on its success to date and on the growth we have achieved in recent years with a wider array of service offerings for our clients and more innovation in the delivery of such services. It is also critical to ensure that the firm continues to be a special place to work for all our people.'

Anthony Macpherson joined Kingsley Napley in 2007, made partner in 2015 and advises clients on corporate and financing matters including general corporate and M&A, property finance, asset finance and acquisition finance. Corporate & Commercial has been one of the firm’s fastest growing practice areas in the last three years and is a core focus in the firm’s growth strategy over the coming years. 

Having joined Kingsley Napley in 2003 and led the firm’s highly regarded criminal litigation practice for twelve years (2006-2018), Stephen Parkinson became senior partner in 2018. In this role he made support for Diversity & Inclusion one of his priorities, championing the recruitment and promotion of BAME talent, leading on various anti-racism initiatives and being an active LGBTQ+ ally. 

Stephen is perhaps most well-known, however, for his 40+ year career as a criminal lawyer. He started as a Crown Prosecutor, then worked in the Government Legal Service serving as Deputy Head of the Attorney General’s Office from 1999 to 2003, before moving to private practice at Kingsley Napley. He played a significant role in developing and cementing the firm’s stellar reputation for business crime and public law. 

Kingsley Napley Managing Partner Linda Woolley adds: 'Stephen is one of our country’s leading lights in criminal and public law, yet is also incredibly modest, discreet and down to earth. Kingsley Napley owes much to his outstanding contribution to this firm. It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with Stephen over the last 20 years. I will miss his wise counsel and working alongside him. We all wish Stephen a fulfilling and happy retirement.'