Bevan Brittan names head of employment as third consecutive female senior partner

National law firm Bevan Brittan has appointed its third female senior partner in a row, with its Head of Employment, Pensions & Immigration taking up the position from 1 May 2021.

Jodie Sinclair, who succeeds Joanne Easterbrook, said the firm was on a strong financial footing and well placed to expand further within its established and emerging markets.

Last Friday Bevan Brittan hailed its performance in its core markets of Health, Housing and Local Government and confirmed a 3% staff pay rise, to take place in March, plus an additional 3% ‘thank you bonus’ for staff to be applied to the last six months and paid now. The firm topped £50m in revenue for the first time in 2019-20.

Sinclair said the fact that she had achieved a senior position after joining the firm 21 years ago as an assistant solicitor “showed the inclusive culture and support for all to build a rewarding career at Bevan Brittan”.

As well as being senior partner, she will continue to play a lead role in the firm’s Responsible Business programme, leading on Health & Wellbeing as well as championing D&I, Community Engagement and Environmental Sustainability.

She added: “At Bevan Brittan there are exciting times ahead as we build upon our strong business strategy based upon profitable growth, focused within particular established and emerging markets, and where we have a strong ethos of working in partnership with our clients to support them to deliver their immediate and strategic goals.     

“I began with Bevan Brittan 21 years ago and I am about to become Senior Partner. I am incredibly proud of our culture and approach that enables people to achieve their potential on merit and regardless of background.

“Today, on International Women’s Day, I am also very proud to be the third female Senior Partner in a row for Bevan Brittan. Whilst there is still more to do on diversity in the legal sector as a whole, as the Wellbeing lead and in my role as Senior Partner, I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to work with colleagues to promote and further embed our Responsible Business programme.”

Sinclair said: “I care passionately about the wellbeing and resilience of us all, and that of our business. We have successfully come through a challenging time over the last 12 months, and I am keen that we continue to build on that success, as we support each other and our clients.”

Duncan Weir, Managing Partner of Bevan Brittan, said: “Our business is in very good shape and I’m delighted that Jodie will be in place from May to be part of the leadership team to take the business forward into the next stage of our development.

“I look forward to working with Jodie in her new role, to help us develop our existing and new clients and, in the post-pandemic world, to ensure we meet their future challenges and our services remain as relevant in three years’ time as they are now.”

Easterbrook will continue to be part of the firm’s clinical risk leadership team that advises clients across the health and social care sector, as well as the firm’s Partner Lead for Diversity & Inclusivity.