Long-serving law firm CEO to step down

THE chief executive of Irwin Mitchell, John Pickering, has today announced he is to step down after 37 years with the firm.

The national firm, which has a Manchester office, named Andrew Tucker, who was previously the chief executive of its Personal Legal Services (PLS) division as his successor.
 
Mr Pickering, who joined as an articled clerk before rising through the ranks, said his decision was based on the changing legal sector and his desire for the firm to have a settled senior management in place for the long term.

Irwin Mitchell, which was one of the first firms to be granted ABS status, has recently grown revenues to £200m for the first time.

Chairman Glyn Barker, said: “Having put in place a top class executive team, John believes that the firm should now be led by a chief executive who will lead the organisation over the medium term. Although I personally will miss John a great deal, this is an honourable decision, taken in the long term interests of Irwin Mitchell, and John has my full support.”

Mr Pickering said: “This has been a difficult decision for me because I am deeply committed to the firm. I am proud of its growth, development and success, something which has been derived from the hard work of many people over the years.
 
“I believe we have created a basis for the future success of the business. It is well placed to take advantage of all the opportunities which will come our way in the near future and to progress our plans.
 
“The group will need a settled management team in place throughout this and, therefore, I concluded that a well-managed and orderly transition to a new leader was appropriate now and the right direction for the firm to take.”