Foot Anstey, the national law firm with an office in Bristol, has appointed a new chair and non-executive director to its management board in what it described as an important step in its strategic direction.
Existing partner and head of employment/head of commercial, tech & data Karen Bates, pictured, right, is the new chair of the management board, while Jane McCormick, pictured, left, a former partner and global head of tax and legal services at accountancy group KPMG, has become a non-executive director. 
The appointments follow on from the arrival last October of non-executive director Jason Haines, a former finance and operations director at British multinational law firm Allen & Overy and global chief technology officer (CTO) at PricewaterhouseCoopers (now PwC).
Jane McCormick has more than 30 years’ experience in tax and legal services. She is recognised internationally for her expert insights into evolving tax landscapes, having held roles as head of tax and pensions at KPMG UK and as KPMG’s head of tax for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
She has regularly consulted with tax authorities worldwide on key regulatory issues and currently holds several non-executive and trustee roles in both commercial and not-for-profit organisations. 
These include as chairman of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in London and as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’s (ICAEW) tax faculty board.
Foot Anstey managing partner Martin Hirst, pictured, said: “Jane has worked with some of the most complex and interesting businesses in the world.
“Her experience is vast and unique, having advised on projects of global significance with regards to mergers and acquisitions, structured finance and operational risk management.
“Her expertise will have a positive impact on the firm as we move into an important stage of our current growth strategy.”
Jane said she was thrilled to be joining Foot Anstey and was eager help shape a future where its expertise and client service set new benchmarks in the industry.
New chair Karen was first election to the firm’s management board in 2015 and is also leads more than 45 lawyers in the firm’s commercial and employment teams.
Martin Hirst said having Karen as chair was fantastic news for the future of Foot Anstey.
“Her role on the management board to date and experience leading our commercial and employment teams means she has a unique understanding of the commercial challenges faced across sectors,” he added.
“This will enhance the enabling of our client’s ambition, strengthening the actionable expert advice that we provide.”
Karen said: ” As I embark on this new chapter as chair of the board, I am honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility to lead and guide our talented team in collaboration with Martin.
“In this new role, I am eager to leverage our collective expertise and drive positive change for our clients and our people as we continue our steadfast commitment to driving the firm towards continued growth, innovation and success.”
Karen succeeds as Duncan Ralph as chair of the firm’s board.
Foot Anstey, which also has offices in London, Plymouth, Taunton and Truro, works with leading brands and individuals predominantly across six key sectors – developers, energy & infrastructure, Islamic finance, private equity, private wealth, retail & consumer.
