Payne Hicks Beach

Payne Hicks Beach has announced the next generation of management for the central London firm.

Effective from 1 June 2019, private client partner Robert Brodrick will take the reins as chair of the newly created management board, which will also consist of Dominic Crossley and Jonathan Gatward, the firm’s heads of dispute resolution and corporate respectively. Virginia Farquharson will continue in her role as director of management.

Alastair Murdie (pictured), Payne Hicks Beach’s senior partner since 2010, will retire on 31 May after 33 years with the firm; tax and estate planning expert Rosamond McDowell will take over the role of head of private client from Alastair upon his retirement. Ian Airey will also step down as head of the family department to focus on his practice as a partner, and will be replaced by family law specialists Rebecca Cockcroft and Philip McGuirk as department co-heads.

Robert Brodrick, incoming chair of the management board, said: ‘I would first like to thank Alastair on behalf of the firm for his outstanding leadership and wisdom over the years. Payne Hicks Beach has an enviable history, and he is leaving it stronger than ever with an exciting future ahead. I very much look forward to working with Dominic and Jonathan in providing leadership to the firm within the management board. The newly appointed heads of department have a wealth of expertise, experience and energy. Rosamond, Philip and Rebecca will build on the great successes and steady growth seen by both those key departments.’