National Legal Service (NLS), one of England & Wales’ foremost Family and Care law firms, has announced the appointment of Charles Metherell, as its first full-time CEO.
Metherell was until recently a partner with listed firm, Knights plc, providing regulatory and advisory services to law firms.
He is used to working with banks, private equity, accountants, insolvency practitioners and the wider insurance industry and has also spent many years acting for the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority).
National Legal Service, founded in 2018, has rapidly grown to almost 170 strong, with 13 offices nationally.
“We have lawyers of exceptional ability acting for clients in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. The culture of ‘can do’, agility and sheer dedication that this has bred is one of this firm’s unique features,” he says.
Metherell sees his new role as one of freeing the firm’s lawyers to get on with their job by removing superfluous layers of management, streamlining processes and investing significantly in artificial or augmented intelligence to support them.
As part of a project engagement prior to his official appointment he has brought in Mindy Chall, a former colleague from his Cartwright King days, as NLS Head of Regions.
Via an unwavering focus on efficiency, careful management and, where appropriate, bolt-ons of like-minded Family and Care lawyers, and other areas of synergy, Metherell aims to expand NLS significantly, adding further offices over the next three to five years and growing existing offices.
