Love departs 2 Paper Buildings for RSPCA

Love succeeds outgoing head Frank Widdowson who retires this week. Love is to hand over his head of chambers mantle to Robin Griffiths.

Widdowson spent five years as the RSPCA's top lawyer following a City sojourn with DLA and an in-house position at British Coal. He said: "Legal work for an operational charity such as the RSPCA presents a challenge to lawyers at all stages of their career. I'm grateful for the privilege and challenge of having worked for the RSPCA."

On joining the RSPCA, Love will preside over an in-house team of seven lawyers. The team is divided into three departments - prosecutions, legacy and general.

Prosecutions is a mammoth operation for the small team. In 2000 it had a 97 per cent success rate in bringing cases against 1,066 defendants for 2,476 offences. Again in 2000, the team received £37.5m legacy income on behalf of the society. More general legal work includes handling property, constitutional and media matters.

The animal welfare charity outsources work to a number of firms including Withers, Henmans, Nabarro Nathanson, Herbert Smith, Blake Lapthorn and Farrer & Co.