International law firm Hill Dickinson has outlined its future plans as CEO Peter Jackson announces he will step down from the role next April.
A marine and transport specialist, he has been with the firm since 1983, where he was made managing partner in 2005, before stepping up to become CEO in 2016.
Jackson (pictured left) will be staying with the firm in an advisory capacity and will become a member of the board.
Successor
Partner and head of the firm’s Business Services Group, (BSG) Craig Scott, has been named as Peter’s successor, assuming the role following more than 13 years as a corporate partner and former head of corporate at the practice.
Fiona Parry, partner and head of the Commercial Litigation team, based in Liverpool, who has also been at the firm since 2010, has been named as the new head of BSG, and will be succeeding Scott upon his change of role to CEO at the end of the financial year.
Established in 1810, Hill Dickinson is an international commercial law firm which employs around 950 people across 10 offices, six of which are in the UK.
Rewarding
Peter said: “The past 18 years at the helm of the firm have been both exciting and rewarding and the business is now exactly where we want it to be. Since 2005, Hill Dickinson has grown from revenues of £31m to £128.6m as of April 2023 – our sixth year of consecutive growth – and the firm is a highly trusted brand, with people of great integrity and extremely loyal clients.
“Craig was the clear and unanimous choice for Hill Dickinson’s new CEO. He has driven major growth in revenue and in team strength and depth in the BSG, which is now the firm’s largest division. Under his strategic leadership we will continue to remain a large independent, profitable legal firm, with ambitious growth plans for all our services. I am very confident about the future of the firm with Craig at the helm.”
Hires
The firm’s BSG has made 18 Partner lateral hires during the past two years and has a further six partners who are expected to join the team shortly. The same period has seen five partners join Hill Dickinson’s MBG with a further partner set to join imminently. The HBG has made six partner hires in the past two years.
Craig (pictured right) said: “Put simply, my focus is going to be continuing to invest in the retention of our valued people, strategic recruitment of high performing talent and pushing on with our plans for further sustainable profitable growth in the Marine (MBG) and Healthcare (HBG) business groups as well as BSG, which has been serving us so well over the last three years.
“It’s no doubt that I have big shoes to fill, and I’m truly honoured to take the baton from Peter.”
As the head of its National Commercial Litigation team, Fiona has served on the BSG Board for many years. A successful and popular team leader , she has successfully overseen national recruitment and expansion of her team to support the group strategy.
Peter thanked everyone for their “unwavering commitment” and demonstration of core values of trust, collaboration, innovation and respect during his time as CEO.
