Member Article

Simpson Millar Promotes New Head of Private Practice Area

Simpson Millar has revealed Sarah Ryan as the new Head of its Private Practice Area in a move that also sees her join the law firm’s senior management team.

The Private Practice Area includes the Wills, Trusts and Probate team, as well as the Court of Protection, Commercial Property, Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Family Law departments.

Sarah, who joined the rapidly expanding national firm earlier this year as Partner and National Head of Conveyancing, will now take on responsibility for overseeing the wider private client offering – the latest move in its 5-year, £50m growth strategy, which includes significant investment in its people, technology and marketing.

Boasting 20 years’ conveyancing and management experience, she will continue to lead the firm’s 43-strong conveyancing division - operating across the firms Liverpool, Manchester, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Southport and Lancaster offices – whilst also taking an active role in the strategic direction of the business as a whole.

Formerly Chief Executive Officer for a leading firm in Chester, as well as Head of Conveyancing and Regional Head of Probate Operations Co-operative Legal Services, Sarah is one of a number of recent senior appointments for Simpson Millar which has recruited a new Director of HR and a new National Head of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence in the past 12 months.

Earlier this year the firm also announced plans to expand its team by nearly 20% by the end of 2019 filling an initial 47 new roles in the North West as part of a wider recruitment drive across the country which will create almost 100 new positions.

It has now also introduced its open proposition which is dedicated to providing access to legal services which meet the needs of clients, whilst managing often complex legal issues in a simple, open way.

Commenting on Sarah’s promotion Greg Cox, Simpson Millar’s CEO, said: “The Wills, Trusts and Probate team, as well as the Court of Protection, Commercial Property, Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Family Law services which fall within our Private Practice Area form an important part of our offering here at Simpson Millar.

“We are keen to continue to grow, develop our teams and add talent in order to offer an unrivalled service and deliver on our ambitions to be recognised as forward thinking, open lawyers.

“Sarah has an excellent track record in the strategic management of a private client division – both here at Simpson Millar, and in previous roles – and her contribution to growing that division, and the firm as a whole, will be most valued.

“We are also delighted to be welcoming her onto the Senior Management Team.”

The investment growth strategy, which follows a review last year by the firm’s owner Doorway and the management team at Simpson Millar, is intended to capitalise on the opportunities in the consumer legal market driven through continued regulatory reform, cost pressures and changing client demands.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alisha Griffiths .