Seven new business owners appointed at Coodes Solicitors

Seven new business owners have been appointed at Coodes Solicitors, it has been announced today, as part of the firm’s futureproofing and succession planning strategy.

Partners Sarah Cornish, Kirsty Davey, Sarah Evans, Melanie Grose, Abi Lutey, Jo Morgan, and Rachel Pearce join the six other business owners across a network of offices in Cornwall and Devon headed by Chairman and Partner Peter Lamble.

The expansion brings the total number of business owners to 13 and is the first time in the firm’s history that there are more female managing partners compared to male – the promotions increase the firm’s proportion of female partners to nearly 70 percent.

The new owners will contribute to making key decisions about the business, as well as helping to plan and shape the firm’s growth and leadership.

Coodes, which provides specialist legal services across the region, became a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in 2014 and moved from previously having one Managing Partner to a business-owned model with an executive board of four members.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman and Partner Peter Lamble said: “We are focusing on building the firm of the future, creating a pool of talent to ensure that we have an even stronger foundation to enable Coodes to grow further. All these individuals have demonstrated a strong loyalty and commitment and they have the necessary skills to contribute to the success of the business, coach and develop our new and upcoming talent and to further the firm’s strategy. It is vitally important for us to have the right people in place who can lead the business beyond our current ownership. Our people are key to our success.”

Over 160 lawyers and support staff are employed by Coodes which provides legal expertise and advice to clients from Penzance in the West to Holsworthy in the East. The new structure of thirteen business owners provides the firm with a succession plan for the next 20 years at least.

Peter added: “We remain committed to improving and developing our people and the part they play in the business. It’s about making a generational step, looking at what skills you need and who will sail the ship going forward. Succession planning can be a problem for many firms and often that is not spotted until it is too late resulting in limited options – we can’t allow ourselves to be in that position. These highly skilled lawyers represent true excellence in their areas of work, and I would like to congratulate them on their achievement and wish them all the best for this next exciting phase of their careers.”

Coodes LLP is one of the longest established firms of solicitors in the South West and provides legal advice for both business and personal needs, delivered by experienced lawyers. Specialist areas of work include agriculture, commerce, employment, residential and commercial property, family, wills, trusts and probate, personal injury, clinical negligence, and criminal law.