Holt reveals Pannone reorganisation

THE new managing partner of Manchester law firm Pannone has revealed a major internal overhaul, which has seen the creation of an executive board.

The former head of the firm’s clinical negligence team, who took over in July, has wasted no time in reorganising the structure of the firm, which has 700 staff and this year had a turnover of £49.5m.

Among the other changes she has implemented is a new committee to oversee remuneration and elections to the partnership.

She told TheBusinessDesk.com:”I have been here for 15 years and I am passionate about Pannone and its people. I suppose my challenge is to nurture, maintain and grow the good things here, of which there are many.

“I think Pannone’s strength is its diversity and of course its people.The purpose of the reorganisation is to better align our services to our clients’ needs.”

The new strategic executive board comprises of herself and the heads of the newly-reorganised divisions – Richard Scorer (Injury); Andrew Newbury (Family, Private Client and Wealth Management); Steven Grant (Corporate Services), and Tony Barnfather, (Dispute Resolution and Regulatory.

Fresh from a course at Harvard University on law firm leadership, Emma Holt describes herself as “very collegiate” and “someone who likes a challenge”.

Refusing to set targets for turnover, she says: “My plan is to grow the top line profitably. Our aim will be to grow market share and turnover, but its the profits which is the most important issue.”

She said expansion into new locations was possible, but would only happen if it client demand required it: “We needed a London office because of our regulatory team’s work there,” she added.

Pannone could also ramp up its commoditised legal offering – under one outsourcing deal with London firm Berwin Leighton Paisner,   the firm carries out volume-related work on a contract BLP has with Thames Water.

“This is very much the fifth strand of my strategy. The legal market is changing and we need to meet this. I embrace change – I see opportunities.”

“Senior lateral hires” are another option under consideration, she said, while the firm will also look to grow niche areas such as its specialism in international child abduction and on the commercial side in energy, waste, infrastructure and transport.

Another challenge for the new management team is to decide on whether to stay at the current location on Deansgate, or find a new city centre home. Property firm p3 has been hired to draw up options.

“It’s an interesting and time for both myself and Pannone. I’m really excited about the future,” she added.