Long serving solicitor steps down after 57-year career

One of the West Midlands’ longest serving solicitors has retired after a legal career spanning six decades.

David Mander has stepped down from Coventry and Warwickshire-based Mander Hadley Solicitors – which was founded by his grandfather in 1901.

Having qualified as a solicitor and become a partner at the firm in 1960, Mr Mander subsequently became senior partner, eventually serving in that role until becoming a consultant in 2014.

However, he has not completely stepped away from the business and will continue to be associated with it on a non-practising consultancy basis.

Mr Mander served as both Secretary and President of the Warwickshire Law Society and was a Council Member for the national Law Society for more than 16 years.

He said: “It has been a great pleasure to serve the people of Coventry over the last 57 years and it has been wonderful to see the firm founded by my grandfather in the city 116 years ago go from strength to strength.”

Speaking at a celebration in honour of Mr Mander, staged at St Mary’s Guildhall, Jonathan Hall, managing director at Mander Hadley Solicitors, said: “David has accomplished a great deal in his professional life, both within and outside Mander Hadley.

“And I’d like to thank him most sincerely on behalf of everyone here for all he’s done for the firm, as a fee earner, as a partner and in his leadership role as senior partner over the years.  Through his wide experience David has a huge breadth of knowledge about many areas of law and practice.

“He’s unflappable under pressure; and is a true gentleman, always having time to speak to everyone from the most junior to the most senior members of the firm; and with an open office door, he’s always willing to offer advice and guidance.”

Having followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Mr Mander is one of the third generation of Manders to be associated with the firm.