Louise Workman has been re-elected CEO of national law firm Ashfords for a second four-year term, having overseen consistent revenue growth, greater profitability and a strengthened balance sheet.
Louise, pictured, was first elected as CEO of the firm, which has an office in Bristol, in 2020. 
As well as successfully steering the firm through Covid, she kick-started a new five-year strategy focused on developing its core legal services and driving forward client service improvements.
The strategy has also involves rethinking working practices, driven in part by digital developments and the pandemic.
During Louise’s tenure Ashfords has, in addition, embedded hybrid working practices across its 500-plus strong workforce, streamlined and refurbished its office portfolio around four main hubs in Bristol, Exeter, London and Plymouth and continued to invest in infrastructure improvements.
Louise joined Ashfords as a partner in 2010 from the London office of global firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner), where she spent 10-and-a-half years as a corporate finance partner.
Prior to that she worked as an associate in the London office of British-American firm Norton Rose Fulbright. She became a member of management board in 2018.
Ashfords chair Tim Heal congratulated Louise on her re-election.
“The firm continues to transform under Louise’s leadership by focusing on continually improving what we can do for our clients and for each other,” he said.
“We have a genuine team approach at Ashfords, and I’m looking forward to working with Louise on the next stage in our development.”
Louise added: “It’s a great privilege to be re-elected to lead for another four years.
“Ashfords is a firm full of talented people; trusted by our clients to support them, whether that’s delivering strategically important projects or being by their side when they face challenges or risks.
“As a firm, I believe we have a compelling offer for our people and our clients, and I’m looking forward to building on that as we develop our strategy for 2025 and beyond.”
The firm has invested heavily in its Bristol office in particular, including through series of recent hires which have taken its total number of lawyers and trainees to over 100.
Ashfords has also continued to grow across its commercial, real estate and private wealth divisions, and strengthened its sector experience in energy & resources, public sector, homes & regeneration, marine, technology and healthcare & life sciences.
Among recent high-profile transactions supported by the firm were elements of the £4bn electric vehicle battery gigafactory to be built on former industrial land near Bridgwater, on which it advised Somerset Council, and utility group Pennon’s acquisition of three renewable energy generation projects.
Over the last year, it has also been recognised for its apprenticeship scheme, its peer-to–peer finance expertise and for its work with the tech community.
