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David has gained enormous experience in the management of law firms over the last fifteen years or so. For eleven years he was the managing partner/chief executive of a national law firm, growing turnover from £12 million to £50 million, while quadrupling profit and expanding the business from the South West into a truly national firm.
Before becoming managing partner, David built a highly successful insurance practice for both claimants and defendant insurers, which was recognised by the directories as the leading practice of its kind in the South West, while David himself was recognised as a leader in his field. He was appointed Head of Litigation which became the most profitable part of the business under his leadership.
More recently, David has advised law firms on merger and strategy, particularly in light of the changes in the marketplace for legal services in the UK introduced by the Legal Services Act and which will take effect in October 2011. He has also advised non-lawyer businesses about the opportunities which the introduction of Alternative Business Structures will provide and on the strategies which they might adopt to establish themselves in the new market.
David has spoken at national conferences for other lawyers on the impact of ABS’s on the solicitors’ market and has been guest speaker at client conferences on the subject of the future for legal services in the UK.
Career History:
2011 to Date Chief Executive, Magrath LLP
2010 – 2011 Director, Strategic Law Ltd.
1999 – 2010 Chief Executive, Clarke Willmott
1996 – 1999 Head of Litigation, Clarke Willmott
1990 – 1996 Partner, Clarke Willmott
1986 – 1990 Clarke Willmott & Clarke
1985 – 1996 MacFarlane Guy
1982 – 1985 Bishop, Longbotham & Bagnall
Recent Notable Experience
- Advising a national firm of accountants on their strategy for entering the UK market for legal services
- Advising two South East law firms on merger and practical implementation
- Devising and implementing a partner reward scheme, switching from a traditional lock step to entirely merit-based basis
- Setting up and running of an offshore captive insurance company to reduce the impact of rising PI insurance premiums
- Successfully negotiating and managing the implementation of a number of mergers with law firms in different cities and welding them into one firm
- Devising and championing a highly effective pre-partner training scheme
Interests:
David is a keen gardener and particularly enjoys growing fruit and vegetables. He is also an enthusiastic, but very messy, cook. He enjoys rough shooting with a couple of friends and a dog. David lives in Worcestershire with his partner at weekends and in London in the week. His grown up, twin daughters live away from home and appear to be (almost) financially independent.