Ex-barrister takes helm at Wragges

FORMER barrister Quentin Poole has been named as the new managing partner of Birmingham firm Wragge & Co, 14 years after switching to the solicitor's profession.

Poole takes over from Christopher Hughes who returns full-time to the corporate department.

Hughes, described by Poole as one of the region's "hard-hitters", previously held the post for two years.

Appointed for a three-year term, Poole will work with senior partner John Crabtree to develop the firm's practice both in the UK and abroad.

"At the end of the day I think if you have very clear ideas about the direction which you believe law firms generally and yours in particular should be taking then you have an ambition to be at the core of that progress," said Poole.

"A job such as this puts you in a position to be able to achieve some of those things that you think are important.

"To me the assets of this business are the people who go up and down in the lifts, and therefore motivation of our 440 staff is the most important thing to our business.

"I'm looking forward to having a significant role in that."

The firm, the largest in Birmingham, has 44 partners and 23 practice areas.

In recent months it has recruited 20 lawyers, a number of them in the litigation and corporate departments, and additional signings are expected.

"The strength and depth of regional law firms is growing and developing," said Poole.

He added: "The challenge now is to continue to attract a very important proportion of the work from the very biggest UK companies and to develop international business."