Law firm Pannone looks forward
LAW firm Pannone is at the beginning of a new era under the leadership of managing partner Emma Holt.
Appointed to the role in mid 2010, Holt undertook a full strategic review which has paved the way for a radical overhaul of Pannone.
Called ‘Achieving our Vision’ the new strategy will create a “progressive firm that is embracing the evolving legal landscape”.
Pannone as redrafted its members agreement and create executive board with decision-making powers and move to performance-based profit sharing.
A major restructure has taken out £3m of annual costs, and created five divisions from the fee-earning teams – Injury and Negligence, Family, Personal and Financial, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Regulatory and Affinity Solutions.
A new nominations and remunerations board has been set up and earlier this year a complete rebrand, including new website, reflecting the firm’s values of ‘energy and excellence’
Strategic lateral hires including a new director of finance and partners from the ‘Big Four’ to lead Pannone’s expansion into new sectors such as education and disability rights.
An internal communications strategy has also been launched whihc is designed to engage the firm’s 630-strong workforce. This includes regular meetings and group sessions to openly and frankly discuss issues and how to overcome them.
Business development and a sense of entrepreneurialism are are the heart of the new Pannone vision.
A partner in each team has been assigned the role of ‘business development champion’ to oversee marketing activities. This sharing of responsibility has enabled the firm’s in-house business development team to engage directly with existing and prospective clients as well as focusing on client care.
Pannone is a full service law firm with clients from the private and public sectors as well as private individuals.
The firm is a UK leader across many disciplines from medical negligence, family and personal injury to regulatory, corporate crime and dispute resolutions as well as in niche areas such as international child abduction and human and disability rights.
Its corporate team has advised on a number of high profile North West deals, including the recent acquisition of a former bathroom manufacturing site in Middlewich, Cheshire, to Imperial Bathrooms.
In response to the Legal Service Act, Pannone this year launched a new division – Affinity Solutions to offer ‘white label’ legal services – consumer disputes, fast-track accidents and injury claims and conveyancing and remortgaging – to retailers and insurers a number of which it has signed up.
The division has already been shortlisted in the category of Legal Industry Pioneer at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2011 for this initiative.
