Business Manager and factotum for Cleveland Scott York, a leading frim of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys.

Cleveland IP was a firm of patent and trade mark attorneys which merged with another firm, Scott & York IP law, on 1 April 2017. See the page for Cleveland Scott York for more details.

I was appointed as Palmers' first COO in May 2012 as the firm entered an exciting stage in its development. Responsible day to day for managing the finance function, leading the support functions and striving for excellence in all operations. I'm also resonsible for helping the partners devise and implement strategy. Watch this space!Palmers, South Essex's premier law firm, is a Legal 500 Leading Firm, a general practice with specialists in Company Commercial, Commercial Property and Commercial Litigation, as well as having a comprehensive Private Client department. If you have any doubts about the value for money represented by your most recent quotation for legal services, or need a second opinion of different approach, give me a call.

Lexcel is a quality accreditation for law firms, which requires firms to assess their policies, systems and training in a variety of areas, including strategic planning, marketing, financial management, ICT, HR, operational risk management and client care. I ceased to operate as an independent consultant when I joined Palmers, and I work now to ensure that Palmers maintains its Lexcel accreditation and that this delivers as much value to the firm's clients, and its own team, as possible.

As Practice Director my role was to run the business operations of the firm so that the partners could concentrate on serving their clients. I ensured that the firm’s day to day tasks, including HR, performance assessment, and facilities management operated consistently and to a high standard. At the same time I worked on strategic planning and improving the business operations of the firm – improved recruitment systems, for example.It was a great privilege to manage some big projects at the firm, including the conversion of the general law partnership into a group of LLPs. I also had a leading role in the design and construction of a new office in Leamington Spa, and to merge the two formers Midlands offices into it.By the time I left the firm I had helped the partners implement strategies to increase fee earner productivity and to boost profitability significantly, allowing many good people to be promoted into the partnership. We also had a great system for marketing and BD, we’d recently employed the firm’s first Marketing Manager, and all the fee earners in the firm knew that getting involved in marketing and BD, in some capacity, was part of the job description.After seven years it was a wrench to leave W&R. It was tempting to stay there for the rest of my career – the patent sector is one where it is still common for people to spend their whole career at one or two firms. But it’s my personal belief that organisations benefit from a periodic change in senior management – a fresh perspective brings new ideas and new solutions. And I too needed new challenges – one of the curses and benefits of being a low “S”. (Those of you who use DiSC psychometric profiling will know what I mean!)

As Peterkins' first Practice Manager I took over the roles of the Senior Cashier/Administrator and the Management Partner, with responsibility for Finance, HR, Marketing and all those ad hoc tasks that make the role as the senior manager in a professional service firm so varied and interesting.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland is Scotland’s major agricultural society, a not-for-profit organisation incorporated by Royal Charter. Its Royal Highland Show is a 4 day event with, in my time, over 150,000 visitors - it probably gets more now. My role when I worked here encompased operations, marketing, sales and purchasing and was a brilliant job but for one thing - after four years, it became just too repetitive.

Various appointments as an infantry officer in The Light Infantry and in staff appointments, throughout the UK and in Germany during 8 year career, rising to rank of Captain. Highlights of my career included devising various new administrative and operational procedures and manuals, including a communications plan for a unique unit, and managing a unique British Army fundraising effort, the Rhine Army Summer Show.