High profile solicitor joins Manchester law firm

Law firm Browne Jacobson has appointed Helen Simm as partner in its Manchester office.

She has 16 years’ experience in the legal sector and joins having represented individual and corporate clients facing investigation and prosecution by all major regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Ms Simm specialises in financial crime investigations.

She has joined the firm from Clyde & Co LLP, where she was a legal director in the safety, health and environmental regulatory team.

Before that Simm worked for 12 years at Slater & Gordon, latterly as principal lawyer in several widely reported criminal cases.

This included representing the lead defendant in the largest police corruption prosecution in UK history, arising from the Lynette White murder.

She will work alongside the firm’s ten-strong national criminal, compliance and regulatory team to undertake both defence and prosecution work for clients involved in investigations by all major regulators, focusing on the North West market.

The appointment continues the strong growth across Browne Jacobson’s North West team, which has seen headcount grow by 32 per cent in the last 12 months and revenues by 26 per cent in the year ending March.

Andrew Hopkin, partner and head of Browne Jacobson’s regulatory practice, said: “We are delighted to welcome Helen to the team.Helen has developed an excellent reputation in the North West market through significant experience in often high-profile regulatory and criminal law matters, and will be an excellent asset to us as we continue to develop and expand our offer in this sector.”

Ms Simm said: “I am pleased to have the opportunity to join Browne Jacobson to develop the firm’s regulatory practice in the North West and beyond.

“There is a great deal of opportunity in this market, and the calibre of the existing team gives me great confidence in our ability to make an even greater impact in the region and further afield.”