Irwin Mitchell chief to step down in 2009

Irwin Mitchell managing partner Howard Culley has announced that he has decided to retire from the firm – just eight months after being re-elected to the role.

Culley, whose successor will be announced in December, has been the firm’s managing partner for the past 20 years and was at the forefront of a push to take advantage of the Legal Services Act.

Irwin Mitchell senior partner Michael Napier said: “I fully understand Howard’s wish to hand over the managing partner baton and have nothing but praise for his truly magnificent contribution and business acumen, on which we’ll ­continue to draw as Irwin Mitchell prepares for the opportunities of the new legal services marketplace.”

Culley will relinquish his role at the end of April 2009 and continue as a partner until at least May 2010.