Former boss Sedgwick is Clarke Willmott’s latest departure

ANOTHER high-profile departure from Birmingham law firm Clarke Willmott has been confirmed.

Former chief executive David Sedgwick has left the business almost six months after stepping down as chief executive of the firm, a post he had held for 11 years.

Last month, Clarke Willmott lost its family law team to rivals Harvey Ingram, and it was also revealed that high-profile partners Kathy Toon and Simon Bradley are due to depart next year.

Stephen Rosser, who replaced Mr Sedgwick as chief executive was reported last month as saying it was ‘business as usual’ at the firm, despite the departures.

Today he said: “We wish David well with his new role. During his time with us David made a huge contribution to the development of the business”.

Mr Sedgwick qualified as a solicitor in 1982 and joined Clarke Willmott in 1986. He became a partner in 1990 and nine years later was elected managing partner.

He was one of the founding partners of Clarke Willmott’s Bristol office, developing it into a successful litigation practice. His clients included RAC, Zurich Insurance and many local authorities, police forces and other public bodies.

Mr Sedwick was credited with taking the firm from a £12m practice with 13 offices in Somerset into a £40m business with offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton, Taunton and London.

He had led a drive to radically restructure the firm, and in 2004, Legal Business called Clarke Willmott “the most ambitious of the next generation of national law firms.” But it is believed that his further ambitions to consolidate the business failed to win the support of fellow partners, and he stepped down from the leadership earlier this year.