Thomas Sheppard, managing partner at M4 corridor law firm Thrings, which has its largest office in Swindon, is to move to the newly-created role of executive chairman. Simon Holdsworth, head of the firm’s company commercial team, is to take over as managing partner.
As part of the changes Thomas will lead the transformation of the firm’s personal injury (PI) practice into a separate business. The executive chairman role will give him responsibility for overseeing the management board.
He told The Lawyer website: “One of the things I’ll be doing is taking the PI business and leading that, still as part of Thrings, but as a separate legal entity, which should be in effect in the next 12 months.”
Thrings’ PI business employs 20 lawyers and accounts for between 10% and 15% of the firm’s £21m turnover.
Thomas, who has been managing partner for 10 years, said: “That is a long time in any job these days and to be working at something you enjoy for that length of time is a real bonus. There have been challenges and Thrings is a different firm from the one that I took on as managing partner – its growth, success and reputation being a testament to the hard work put in by all our staff, past and present.
“As head of a successful business, you know when the time is right for a change in leadership and that time is now. In my new role as executive chairman I will be able to support Thrings as it continues to change and grow under Simon’s watch.”
Simon, who has been with Thrings for 15 years and has been shadowing Thomas for the past 12 months in preparation for the handover, said: “I am extremely proud to take on this new role, especially at a time when the legal market is undergoing such exciting and challenging changes.
“Through Thomas’s leadership and hard work we have become a strong, commercial-focused, regional law firm with a national reputation and are well placed to take advantage of the accelerated pace of change in our clients’ expectations.
“My aim is to continue to build on the strong foundations that Thomas has put in place.”
Thrings also has offices in Bristol, Bath, Marlborough, Reading and London.
