Location

Management Board

Position: Management Board

Dave Matthews

Dave became CEO of Blaser Mills Law LLP in January 2019 having been part of the firm’s management for over 15 years.

Dave has been responsible for creating the firm’s business plan, formulating strategy and ensuring the achievement of the firm’s goals.

Dave works closely with a team of specialist managers including the Business Development Partner, Finance Director and individual Heads of Departments, ensuring continuing improvement in all aspects of the firm’s performance. Dave has been particularly willing to seek specific external expertise where required, utilising a number of consultants and specialists to provide input to the firm on issues such as pricing, performance management, delegation, and management skills.

Over the past few years, as part of the management team, Dave has presided over a dramatic growth in the firm’s size and turnover. This period has also seen a considerable increase in the number of very high-quality nationally-recognised specialist lawyers practicing at the firm, as evidenced by a huge increase in the number of lawyers being ranked within Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.

Dave joined Blaser Mills in 2001, becoming a partner in 2003. He specialised in Personal Injury litigation, attaining Top Ranked status with Chambers and Partners and a similar accolade in The Legal 500. As a litigator Dave generally adopted a collaborative approach and was known for his ability to apply a creative and flexible approach in order to achieve excellent outcomes for clients.  These skills, and particularly the ability to achieve a desired outcome across a wide range of situations, have proved equally valuable following his move into full-time management.

Jane Hannaway

Jane is a Partner, Head of the Residential Property team and sits on the firm’s Management board.

She has vast experience in handling high net-worth properties. Jane has acted for a broad range of buyers, sellers, lenders, developers, investors and international clients.

Jane prides herself on her pragmatic legal advice and approachable manner. She has a strong reputation amongst clients which has led to repeat business, referrals and recommendations.

Noel Deans

Noel is a Partner, Head of the Employment team and sits on the firm’s Management board.

He has over 25 years’ experience in employment law. Prior to joining Blaser Mills Law, Noel was a partner in a number of leading city and international firms.

Noel regularly advises clients on a wide range of employment law matters including privacy, appointments, business reorganization, TUPE, collective consultations, internal investigations, disciplinary hearings, breach of fiduciary duties, board disputes, dismissals, discrimination, whistleblowing, bonus and other contract disputes related to post-termination restrictions, team moves, diversion of business opportunities and partnership agreements.

Noel is good at identifying the precise issue, appropriate strategy and has a strong reputation for giving “sound stellar advice on the commercial and legal aspects” of dispute resolution.

Noel has advised a variety of clients including senior executives, FTSE100 companies and some of the largest US headquartered global corporations in a wide range of sectors, including publishing, advertising, technology, oil and gas, insurance, banking, recruitment and charities.

Noel has been ranked in the top 20 employment lawyers in the UK and is an outstanding public speaker who regularly provides training to clients and members of leading trade associations.

Noel is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Alexandra Kirk

Alexandra is Partner and sits on the firm’s Management Board to develop and implement the firm’s vision and strategy, particularly on the operational side of the business. Alex also heads up the Private Client division focusing on delivering a high quality and client focused service for the personal client services offered by the firm, and also building close relationships with key complementary external professionals to ensure our clients can obtain access to top quality advice across all areas outside the law.

Alex is also a senior leader in the Residential Property team with over 20 years of experience in the field. Alex has particular expertise in dealing with property for sports professionals and HNW individuals, and regularly advises on all of their property requirements, from buy to let investments to purchasing their main residence. Her vast experience enables her to advise her clients in an efficient, discreet and stress-free manner.

Hiren Gandhi

Hiren is a Partner and sits on the firm’s Management Board. Hiren works closely with the CEO to deliver on the firm’s business objectives, typically involving strategy, growth, client relationships and high-level recruitment. Hiren heads up the firm’s commercial unit, managing and driving performance of the firm’s commercial practice groups, as well as overseeing the Business Development and Marketing function.

Hiren currently holds Non-Executive Director board positions at Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF) and HWBIDCo. Hiren started out his career as a patent attorney, working at several intellectual property law firms in London and the north of England.

Jonathan Lilley

Jonathan is the firm’s Executive Chairman, responsible for initiating, managing and promoting the Firm’s key objectives for growth, strategy and continuing prosperity. He is the Firm’s Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and sits on the Management board.

Jonathan is also a Commercial Litigator, specialising mainly in areas of property, employment and dispute resolution. He retains and acts for a wide variety of clients in many fields of business, including international freight forwarders, IT companies and property investment companies, primarily in the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. As an employment lawyer, he is particularly sought after for representation of those involved in managing high value and/or difficult severance packages for employer and employee alike. With 30 years of practising experience Jonathan is recommended in The Legal 500 UK guide.