Macfarlanes boosts private client with senior Speechlys hire

Gothard is set to join Macfarlanes in the first half of next year, although no exact start date has been finalised.

He joined Speechlys as a partner in March 2005 from Macfarlanes, where he was a lawyer outside of the partnership, and currently splits his time between London and Zurich.

Speechlys partner and Zurich head Mark Summers will take over as head of Gothard’s practice group.

Gothard said in a statement: “Having trained and worked at Macfarlanes for 10 years it’s exciting to be going back at a senior level. However, I’ve greatly enjoyed my time at Speechlys and have much admiration and affection for the talented team. Mark Summers is a first-class lawyer and I wish him well as my successor.”

Macfarlanes private client head John Conder added: “Private client is central to our thinking about the practice and is going from strength to strength, with an increasing client demand for support internationally and nationally. Charles has strong connections both in the UK and globally, coupled with years of experience that will be of great benefit to our practice and our clients.”

John Ward, overall head of private client at Speechlys, said in a statement: “Charles Gothard has been a valued member of our private client practice for the last eight years and we’ll be sorry to see him go. Charles isn’t leaving us until spring 2013 and so we’ll be working closely with him to ensure a smooth transition for our clients.”

Macfarlanes does not frequently recruit partners laterally, with the most recent high-level hire coming in the form of Addleshaw Goddard corporate partner James Dawson earlier this year (14 March 2012).