Shepherd & Wedderburn listed for management award over Tods buyout

Shepherd & Wedderburn’s management team has been shortlisted for "Best Leadership Team of the Year" in The Lawyer Business Leadership Awards 2015, in the wake of the firm's acquisition and integration of the practice of Tods Murray which went into administration last October.

The awards seek to recognise excellence in business services by individuals and teams in legal services providers across the entire legal market. Judges were looking for operational excellence, examples of creativity and original thinking.

Integration of the Tods Murray practice, which was achieved in just three months, involved the migration of 3,500 clients, 6,800 matters, 2.1m documents and 8,500 contacts and records – along with the relocation of partners and staff to the Edinburgh and Glasgow offices of Shepherd & Wedderburn.

Meantime the management of Shepherd & Wedderburn's existing operation and 380 staff had to continue, with the need to ensure continuity of services to all clients.

In the outcome, within seven months, Shepherd & Wedderburn transformed from a firm with revenues of around £38m to annualised revenues of £52m, and a headcount of 500.

Chief executive Stephen Gibb commented: “All of this could not have been achieved without the very best team in place, a team with the best leadership and management skills. A team with a truly collaborative approach to realising common goals to the mutual benefit of all involved.”

The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 22 September 2015 at the Grange, St Paul’s Hotel in London.