‘Transformation’ key to success says law firm’s new CEO

Sarah Walker-Smith has officially joined Shakespeare Martineau as its new chief executive and has promised to contine to tranform the firm.

Walker-Smith leaves her role as chief operating office at Brown Jacobson to take up the job at Shakespeares. She joins as she has been named top of The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list.

She will join chief financial officer, Lesley Spencer, and chief operating officer, Victoria Tester, in the firm’s senior leadership team.

Walker-Smith, said: “I’m humbled to be acknowledged in this way and being able to drive successful transition and growth is testament to teams that I have had the pleasure of working with.

“It is crucially important for any business, or business leader, operating in such a competitive environment to remain forward-looking and agile. Transformation will be key to future success within the legal industry and I am determined to continue the great progress already made at Shakespeare Martineau.”

Andrew Whitehead, senior partner at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “It is great to have Sarah officially in post, and at such an exciting time in her career too. Getting such recognition for her contribution to the industry is a fantastic achievement, and her ability to influence the legal landscape of the future whilst driving business growth is exactly why we were keen to have her on board.”