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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

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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