Board appointments boost start of new year for family law specialists

After experiencing an unprecedented period of growth The Family Law Company begins 2022 with a strengthened leadership model.

The South West based law firm has appointed three additional directors to the Board. They are: Senior Associate Solicitors Imran Khodabocus and Carrie Laws, and Senior Associate Chartered Legal Executive Gemma Sparks.

The three were the first to complete the company’s new Directorship Programme, implemented to ensure succession planning and provide clear career paths for individuals. Each has been allotted a specialist area to oversee. Imran will be supporting the business training programme; Gemma will be championing the company’s ongoing commitment to legal aid; and Carrie will be focussing on training & development as well as business development.

Imran, who this year received the Devon and Somerset Law Society (DASLS) Presidents’ Special Recognition Honours for his work during the pandemic, said: “I am looking forward to developing the training at the Family Law Company, giving everyone opportunities for career progression whatever that looks like for them. They are the future of the company.”

Gemma added: “There are exciting times ahead and I feel privileged to be able to work in a company which is passionate about access to justice.” Gemma also had success at the most recent DASLS Awards, winning Chartered Legal Executive of the Year.

Carrie joined The Family Law Company as a paralegal in 2010. Working out of the Plymouth office where she has grown a reputation for championing the local community through fundraising for Trevi House, she says she quickly realised that the company was where I wanted to establish and progress my career. “The support I have been given to achieve this has been second to none and I am immensely grateful to the directors and to my fabulous team.”   

Critically, all three undertake work with legally aided clients, a service that The Family Company continues to show a full commitment to.

Business Development Director and Training Principal, Rachel Buckley commented: "This move represents a positive step forward for the company. The new directors bring a great deal of enthusiasm, skill and proven ability for developing and nurturing colleagues which in turn benefits our clients who can be sure they are receiving expert specialist advice.

“They have the drive and determination to both meet and exceed our goals for growth."

At the same time, Rachel is joining company founder Norman Hartnell as joint Managing Director. Working closely together, the pair will support both the operations and development of the business whilst keeping the ethos of the company at the heart of their decision-making.

Norman, who founded the company in Exeter in 1991, said: "I have been working with Rachel for some years now, to share my experience and equip her to deal with the many varied challenges a business leader faces.

“Now is the right time to recognise our work together with her appointment as joint MD. We will continue to build on this to ensure in the future there is someone at the helm who can seamlessly take the company forward, maintaining our ethos and knowing the business inside out.  

“We are much stronger for this succession planning with the long term welfare of the company at heart, and I am delighted at this next step in our evolution."