New guns have been hired by Swindon law firm to help firm grow in every changing market.

Royds Withy King, which has offices in Swindon and Marlborough, has strengthened its business development and marketing team with three senior hires that will increase its profile and revenues through a new industry sector strategy.

The appointments follow a wider-reaching restructuring of the firm’s management functions that have seen the firm appoint its first Operations Director, a new Head of Risk and Best Practice, and a non-executive chair to the Board.

Kevin Peake joined the firm on 5 February as its Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications from Irwin Mitchell, where he was Group Sales & Marketing Director. He brings to the firm a strong track record in transforming professional and financial services brands, having previously led the marketing functions at Clifton Asset Management, npower, Aviva, Abbey National and TSB.

His appointment closely follows that of Michael Cracknell as Senior Business Development Manager, and Natalie Birrell as Head of Marketing Communications.

Michael has a 16-year track record in the professional services sector, having recently worked at Mazars, PwC, Bird & Bird, DLA Piper, Baker Tilly (now RSM) and Eversheds. Natalie, a former journalist, previously led her own PR consultancy advising professional services firms.

Kevin said: “I am impressed by the ambition of Royds Withy King and its future plans. The legal market continues to change and there is huge potential to grow and be a genuine client-focused provider that can innovate around clients’ changing needs."

Graham Street, managing partner of Royds Withy King, said: “We are delighted to have recruited such experienced business development and marketing talent into the firm. We have a strong story to tell with high profile clients and a great breadth of legal expertise across our business, private client, personal injury and medical negligence practices. The team’s initial focus will be on developing our profiles in the industry sectors where we already have strong relationships and a proven track record.”

The merger of Royds and Withy King in September 2016 significantly bolstered the firm’s retail property, commercial litigation, corporate and commercial, banking, employment, family and private client practices. Royds Withy King is now looking to raise the profile of the sector work it is doing in retail, leisure and hospitality; healthcare and social care; technology, media and telecommunications; life sciences; banking and finance; as well as with charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Graham added: “Following our merger with Royds, we are now in an excellent position to build our sector strategy and develop our national brand in a way that brings even greater value to our clients.”

These senior business development and marketing hires form part of a business restructuring programme which began in 2017 with the creation of a dedicated operations department, spearheaded by the firm’s first Director of Operations, Jessica Burston, and a newly-recruited Head of Risk and Best Practice, Emma Palmer. In September, management consultant Louise Fleming, former head of Professional Services and the South West region at Barclays, was appointed Royds Withy King’s first external non-executive Chair of the Board. Regional lead partners for each of the firm’s major offices were also appointed from within the business.

[Ends] Media enquiries should be directed to Izzi Lennon at: izzi.lennon@roydswithyking.com and 01225 730100 Date of issue: 8 February 2018 Photo caption: Pictured from left to right are new hires Michael Cracknell, Natalie Birrell and Kevin Peake with managing partner Graham Street. roydswithyking.com