Nestor legal head defects to Homeserve as first in-houser

FTSE 250 company Homeserve has raided Nestor, the provider of UK health and social care services, for its first in-house lawyer.

Emma Thomas, Nestor's company secretary and head of legal, is leaving to join warranties and repair networks provider Homeserve after more than six years with the small cap healthcare business.

Thomas is expected to join Homeserve in mid-March as company secretary, although her role will also encompass handling the company's legal requirements and managing relationships with external counsel.

It is understood that Homeserve's principal law firm is Birmingham giant Wragge & Co.

Commenting on her new role, Thomas said: "This was a very opportunistic move on the part of Homeserve - they didn't have a particular job spec for me."

Thomas's resignation coincides with an ongoing cost structure review at Nestor, which is expected to be completed by spring.

"The truth of the situation is that I've been at [Nestor] for six and a half years and the opportunities to develop my role further is limited given the state of the company," explained Thomas.

Nestor did not return calls for comment.