Stephens Scown LLP has added further strength to its position as a leading South West law firm through a recent comprehensive governance audit.
The review, carried out over the last six months by the firm’s strategic growth consultant, Dave Beaumont, has culminated in the formation of a new strategy board, which met for the first time on 11 September.
In addition to the creation of a new trustee representative role, two new strategic pillar sponsors have been appointed from the firm’s partnership, along with board advisors set to lead on developing the firm through strategic growth, legal excellence and financial success.
New Trustee Representative role
Having shown a real passion for embedding the values of employee ownership into the heart of the firm through their former roles on the board of trustees, Dave Robbins and Sam Moles have been appointed as the firm’s first trustee representatives on the strategy board. Through their new role, Dave and Sam will be working closely with the managing partner, Richard Baker, pillar sponsors and the broader executive team while ensuring the ‘voice of colleagues’ is considered when the board is evaluating and making strategic decisions.
Dave, a solicitor in the Firm’s Corporate team, and Sam, the firm’s Digital Manager in the Brand Engagement and Customer Experience team and Employee Owner of the Year at the Employee Ownership Association Conference in November 2023, have not only played a pivotal role as members of the trustee group, they have also set up a groundbreaking employee ownership forum and network, joining together organisations who are employee owned or interested in becoming employee owned to share ideas, best practices and peer support.
Strategic pillars
Two new partners have also been added to the strategy board, including Ellie Hibberd, who heads up the firm’s successful Employment and Immigration team, taking on the pillar lead for Client Service, and Tom Chartres-Moore, head of the dynamic Intellectual Property, Data Protection and Technology team, who takes up the mantle of leading on the organisational effectiveness at the firm, ensuring it is ready for whatever the future holds.
They join Verity Slater, who moves from her focus of client delivery to employee experience, and Brian Dolan, who continues in his role of leading on the One Firm approach, ensuring efficient operations and consistent client and employee experience across the three locations of Truro, Exeter and Taunton.
Strategic growth
With over 30 years’ experience in corporate banking, leading large regional teams to meet the needs of SME and mid corporate clients at Lloyds Bank, Dave Beaumont was brought into the firm as a Strategic Growth Consultant to support Stephens Scown in boosting its growth aspirations in Somerset and beyond, having opened an office in Taunton in July 2023, along with delivery of wider strategic goals.
Dave says, “Commercially, this is a very exciting time for Stephens Scown, with the opportunities to build on the heritage it has in new territories. However, it’s about more than that, it’s about making a difference and working with people you admire and who have a purpose to doing business differently. Combined with its employee-owned and B Corp™ status, this makes Stephens Scown a regional heavyweight to be reckoned with in the legal sector.
“I am delighted to take up the role as one of the strategy board advisors so I can continue to support the firm with its growth aspirations alongside the other board advisors. The sky’s the limit of what we can achieve together, powered by the brilliant people at Stephens Scown!”
Alongside Dave’s role at Stephens Scown, he is also a Non-Executive Director at South West Investment Group Ltd (SWIG), the largest provider on complementary loan finance to SMEs in the South West.
Financial strength
Having joined the firm in May this year as Strategic Development Consultant, Joy Vollans heads up the financial strategy for the firm as part of her board advisor role.
Having gained extensive experience through her role as the former CEO of B CorpTM Certified EMW Law, Joy has already made a positive impact and will be working closely with the firm’s team leaders to support the strategic development of our teams, ensuring the right team structures, systems and processes are in place to deliver commercial success.
Further board advisors will be announced in due course, in support of the firm’s legal excellence and to protect its unique ethos and culture, which was recognised in its appearance in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work list.