Clarke Willmott reviews strategy as Sedgwick retains helm

Clarke Willmott has turned its focus to an extensive strategy review following the re-election of managing partner David Sedgwick for a third successive term this morning (6 October).

The Bristol-based firm’s 65-strong partnership will spend the weekend (6-7 October) hammering out its ambitious plans for growth as part of its annual partnership meeting.

Sedgwick commented: “You can’t stand still in this business. I can’t go into detail at this stage but there will be big expansions in terms of turnover and people.”

Under Sedgewick’s leadership over the last four years, Clarke Willmott has opened an office in Birmingham, increased turnover from £18.7m to £39.4m, and grown from 46 to 58 partners.

Sedgwick said the firm already planned to make further hires in the coming months, and had ambitious plans for growth for the Birmingham office in particular.

The firm’s property practice, which numbers 100 lawyers and accounts for 30 per cent of total revenue, has been a particular focus of the firm.

Fourteen of the firm’s total 25 lateral hires over the last three financial years have been in the property group. A further two associates were promoted in the same period.

Last month the firm’s Birmingham property team also snared Hammonds’ property finance director Jane Kemp (www.thelawyer.com, 15 September).

However, Clarke Willmott was hit earlier this week (4 October) by the loss of a three-partner property team, including high-profile real estate chief David Powell, to Bristol rival Osborne Clarke.