Managing director of Cumbrian law firm steps down after 10 years

The managing director of one of Cumbria’s leading law firms has announced he is stepping down from his role next month.

Peter Stafford will retire from Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors at the end of September after more than a decade leading the company.

He will be replaced by Joanne Stronach, who is a director of Cartmell Shepherd and the firm’s Head of Employment and HR.

Peter, who has been at Cartmell Shepherd for more than 25 years, said Joanne’s promotion would ensure a smooth transition following his departure and reflected the firm’s investment in the future.

“It’s been an honour to lead the team for the past 10 years but the time is right for me to step down and enjoy my retirement,” he said. “I’m delighted that Joanne will be taking over as managing director and bringing her expertise, experience and people skills to the role. As a legal firm, we are always looking to the future by making the right choices and Joanne’s appointment will ensure we continue to build on our successes and move forward.”

Cartmell Shepherd employs nearly 130 staff and operates across Cumbria, Northumberland and nationally. It has seven offices including two in Carlisle, and at Brampton, Penrith, Cockermouth, Haltwhistle and Hexham.

Joanne joined Cartmell Shepherd in 2018 and is one of the North’s leading employment lawyers. She brings more than 30 years’ experience of working with businesses across the North to the role and plans to continue advising employers, with the support of the employment law team.

After working in London for several years, Peter joined Cartmell Shepherd in 1998 and has spent his legal career specialising in complex legal disputes.

As managing director, Peter has overseen a significant expansion of the law firm including the acquisition of Hexham-based Nicholson Portnell last year, and the opening of its first new office in 30 years with the firm’s expansion into West Cumbria in 2018. He successfully steered the legal firm through the challenges of the Covid pandemic, and initiated Cartmell Shepherd joining the UK200Group, a UK-wide select group of law firms and accountants.

Most recently, the law firm was a finalist in three categories at the Northern Law Awards with one of their graduate apprentice solicitors being shortlisted in a fourth category.

Peter has made career development within the team a priority at Cartmell Shepherd, from recruiting apprentice and trainee solicitors, to clear paths to Associate, Senior Associate and Director level. This ongoing investment in people alongside the nurturing of specialist teams helps deliver the best quality advice and service for clients.

Peter said one of his biggest personal achievements had been creating a more approachable, less formal culture within the law firm, where clients felt at ease discussing often complex or difficult legal matters, and the team were supported at all times.

“My aim was for us to be the opposite of the old-fashioned, grey-suited law firm by ensuring that our culture, communications and branding all reflected a less formal approach while still delivering the same professional, expert, practical legal advice. My ultimate aim was to make visiting a solicitor a less daunting proposition for people.”

Under Peter’s leadership, Cartmell Shepherd has also become much more involved in the local communities surrounding their offices.

“We’ve definitely become a more outward looking company over the past decade. We don’t just support community events and not-for-profit organisations financially; our teams are encouraged to actively get involved which makes all the difference.”

Joanne will become the first female managing director of Cartmell Shepherd when she takes over from Peter in September, with her appointment receiving the unanimous support of the firm’s board of directors.

“Having the confidence of the board and the wider Cartmell Shepherd team that I’m the right person for the job is hugely important to me,” she said. “I’m proud to have an expert, dynamic, innovative board of directors supporting me who understand that the legal industry is evolving rapidly and who are committed to embracing new technology to help us move with it.

“I’m looking forward to building on everything we have achieved over the past 10 years, and continuing to grow and develop the firm to both embrace the opportunities and meet the challenges ahead.”