Next generation set to take over at Nicholson Graham

A new guard is to take over management of Nicholson Graham & Jones, with insolvency head Tony Griffiths succeeding Michael Johns as managing partner.

The changes come following the collapse of the firm’s merger talks with Pinsents earlier this year.

“There were a number of things that were put on hold during the Pinsents talks,” said Johns, who will continue in the role of chairman and senior partner.

The changes emphasise a generational shift in those controlling the firm.

“We wanted to empower the younger people at the firm,” said Johns.

John Elgar succeeds Richard Talbot as head of the company department, and Rachel Boothroyd will become head of intellectual property, technology and sport.

Meanwhile the construction and engineering department will merge with and become a sub-group of the dispute resolution and litigation department, under litigation head John Magnin.

The firm will also merge its corporate tax and share schemes group with the private client department, which will be run by new head Richard Woolwich.

At the same time, private client partner Jo Goldby has left to head the private client department at Howard Kennedy. Goldby, who takes with her one assistant, has advised clients such as ING Barings, Bank of Bermuda and Trident Trust, and is understood to have taken some of this work with her.

Goldby said her decision to move was unrelated to the management changes, announced after her resignation.

Corporate partner Kevin McGuinness is also due to leave and set up his own firm in Dorset, while conveyancing partner Sheila Stewart is to retire.

The practice group heads were chosen following a consultation process and partnership vote, the results of which were announced to the firm last Friday (26 March).