End of an era as JMW’s Bill Jones reveals retirement plan

BILL Jones, the founder of entrepreneurial Manchester law firm JMW Solicitors, is to step down as managing partner at the end of the month.

Mr Jones, 65, will become chairman and be replaced as managing partner by commercial property partner Paul Walker, who will lead a new executive team with senior partner Joy Kingsley.

Mr Jones who had planned to retire two years ago, feels now is the right time to hand over the day-to-day running of the Spinningfields-based practice as it is in a strong position and the wider economy much more stable.

JMW has been one of the success stories of the Manchester legal marker in recent years. Fee income doubled from £8m to £16m between 2008 to 2014. Its headcount has also grown significantly to 235 including 40 partners.

Mr Jones said: “It will be a big wrench to stand down. JMW is in my blood, but it is the right time to get more of a balance in my life, and maybe not go into the office every day, as I have every day for the last 40 or so years.

“I’ll still be around, and will be keeping busy, but I won’t be interfering with what Paul and Joy want to do, so I won’t be on the board.”

He said the legal market has changed “phenomenally” since he began his career in the profession, with clients far more mobile amid tough competition in the sector, and with funders taking a much stricter line with law firms.

He added: “It has been a privilege and an honour for me to lead JMW over such a long period of time and to work with such a fantastic group of people. My decision has been made easier by the fact that I will be standing down at a time when JMW is in fantastic shape and in such excellent hands.

“With the present board and incredible talent we now have in the firm I have no doubt JMW will continue to prosper. It will be good to be able to spend more time with my family and enjoy the occasional game of golf.”

Mr Jones, who has won a number of awards for his leadership of JMW, will continue to run the firm’s separately branded anti-money laundering advice and training company ML Solutions4U.  He will also continue his role as chairman of Manchester’s Spinningfields Business Group.

Paul Walker has been with JMW for over 25 years as a partner and sits on the firm’s equity board and has been financial director since 2009.

He said: “I am proud to be taking over as managing partner of JMW but I am fully aware that Bill will be a hard act to follow.  His work over the years at JMW has been immense and we are very grateful to him for his leadership which has led to JMW being such a successful firm.

“I am very much looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and working closely with our Senior Partner Joy Kingsley and the rest of the Equity Board.”

Senior partner Joy Kingsley added: “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Bill as managing partner over the past four ears and I look forward to working with Paul as he takes on the role. I have great admiration for all Bill has achieved at JMW and I know that Paul will bring similar commercial acumen and the same commitment while putting his own stamp on the role.”

“We have enjoyed considerable success in Manchester over the last few years, not only doubling revenue and profit but investing in many new recruits both at senior and junior level. The firm today stands at 235 people as against 170 in 2008 at the start of the recession.”

Meanwhile the firm has announced 20 internal promotions as it invests for the future.

Commercial Litigation partner Marc Yaffe and head of Lawshare Stuart Cartwright have become fixed equity partners and Jean Warde, personal injury and Michael Purvis, residential conveyancing are both promoted from senior associate to partner.

Elsewhere, there have been seven promotions to senior associate for Nina Latham (corporate) , Beth Reay and Angharad Hughes (clinical negligence), Tasnim Khalid (private client), Lee McGovern (head of new business), Angela Hince (personal injury) and Vicky Burgess (corporate recovery and insolvency).

A further nine promotions from solicitor to associate are: Kelly Hindle (communications), Katie Nolan (clinical negligence), Daniel Harrison and Jane Faulkner (private client), David Bondt and Richard Glover (commercial litigation), Hannah Wightman (corporate recovery and insolvency), Sam McElroy (personal injury) and Caroline McCarron (Lawshare).