Leigh Day appoints four non-legal partners following SRA approval of Alternative Business Structure

Four Leigh Day business services employees will be the firm’s first non-legal partners, following the SRA’s approval of the firm’s application. The new partners are Gurveer Virdi, Viviana Marcus, James Harrison, and Fiona Allen. 

The firm continues to expand rapidly, with 71 partners and over 750 employees in total across offices in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and Chesterfield. The move away from a traditional partnership will allow for those working in the business services department to apply to become partners and have more input into how the firm is run. 

The ABS announcement follows other recent success for the firm, including being named UK Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Europe Awards 2023. Leigh Day has also recently won Employment Firm of the Year at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2023, has been nominated for two awards at the Manchester Legal Awards 2023, and two human rights lawyers have been shortlisted for the upcoming Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2023.

Finance Director Gurveer Virdi began working at Leigh Day in January 2013. He works closely with Senior Partner Martyn Day and Managing Partner Chris Benson, and oversees the whole firm’s finances including litigations funding, suppliers, salaries and time recording. 

Viviana Marcus is Head of Professional Ethics & Risk Management and has been at the firm since June 2017 and is also the firm’s Data Protection Officer. She has many years’ experience in the legal sector and works with all staff and partners to implement good practice and strategies for managing risk, quality, and information security. 

James Harrison, Leigh Day’s IT and Facilities Director, joined the firm in 2008, and is responsible for leading on IT strategy and the delivery of IT services, as well as overseeing the facilities team. He continues to lead on several significant technology projects and maintains a close collaboration with the managing partner and senior management team. 

Fiona Allen is Leigh Day’s HR Director and has over 20 years’ experience working within legal partnerships. She has worked for Leigh Day since November 2018 and has advised on all areas of HR management including recruitment, resourcing, equality, inclusion, career development, and performance management.  

Leigh Day Managing Partner Chris Benson said: 

“I am thrilled that the SRA has approved our application for a new business structure and that we are able to announce four new partners. The opportunity to have non-legal staff members become partners will be invaluable to the firm, particularly as the four new partners each have a wealth of experience in their respective professions and can apply their knowledge to the running of the firm.

“On behalf of the firm I’d like to congratulate the new partners and I look forward to there being more non-legal partners in the future.”