B P Collins has announced two major promotions taking effect from May 2017. Simon Deans – who has been with the firm for 20 years and is currently practice group leader of the Corporate and Commercial team - will be promoted to senior partner. Alex Zachary will become their practice group leader.
The promotions come following the decision of Chris Hardy to step down from his roles as the firm’s senior partner, and as a partner in theproperty practice, to become a consultant for B P Collins.
Since joining in 1983, Chris has handled highly complex transactions and has acted for developers in all matters relevant to site acquisitions and sales of completed residential units. He will continue to advise B P Collins’ clients in those matters. Partners, Michael Larcombe and Alison Taylor, will continue to manage the property practice going forward.
As senior partner, Simon Deans’ will manage the strategic direction and continued growth of B P Collins alongside its partners, Ian Hopkins, Chief Executive and Gina Connell, Director of Business Development and Marketing. Together they aim to maintain and build stronger relationships with clients and business partners.
Simon adds:
‘I am keen to make myself available across the whole firm - to listen to partners, staff and clients and discuss the issues that they are passionate about. In the increasingly pressurised environment in which the firm operates, we have to constantly challenge ourselves to do things better and to behave consistently in a way that demonstrates our integrity, commitment, friendliness and teamwork, which is at the core of what B P Collins is all about.’
Simon, along with his highly experienced team, will continue to advise clients within the corporate and commercial practice.
Alex has been a member of the firm’s strategic board since 2012 and manages the firm’s relationships with a number of key corporate clients. As the new corporate and commercial practice group leader, Alex will lead a team that already has the highest rankings in legal bibles, Chambers UK and Legal 500.
He adds:
“The way we do business is changing. Clients don’t just want a lawyer who knows the law. They want an adviser with commercial acumen who understands their business inside out and is always looking for opportunities and addressing challenges on their behalf –they want us to be an extension of their management team. Carrying on what Simon has achieved, I look forward to maintaining this high level of service for all of our clients.”
Chris Hardy concludes:
‘After 34 years with the firm, I’ve seen B P Collins go from strength to strength - from consolidating our teams in Gerrards Cross through to developing specialisms in a range of very significant areas of law such as business immigration, environment and technology and IP.
‘The firm is in a very strong position and with its very talented and astute lawyers; I’ve no doubt the firm will continue to grow and deliver the outstanding service for which it is renowned. I think that the time is right for Simon to assume this leadership role and I am delighted that I shall still be playing some part in trying to achieving that and giving him and the other partners my support.’