Law firm recruits for its urban and rural practice
South and west Wales law firm JCP Solicitors has appointed two new directors from within its ranks as well as a solicitor in its rural practice team.
Head of commercial lending recoveries Sophie Thomas and head of HR services Clare Bowen have been appointed directors at JCP Solicitors. Both will be primarily based at the firm’s Swansea office.
CEO and director Hayley Davies said: “Both Sophie and Clare have shone during their time with us and I am pleased they will be further cementing their roles here at JCP by accepting directorship.
“It has always been a priority for us at JCP to recognise, nurture and reward outstanding attributes and achievements – this helps us to retain the brightest talents within JCP and it helps our employees to carve out satisfying careers within the industry they love.
“Since joining JCP Solicitors in 2007, Clare has been pivotal to the successful growth of our HR services, a service which offers retainer outsourced HR to JCP clients across south and west Wales.
“Sophie completed her training contract here at JCP back in 2009 and she has recently taken on the management of JCP’s client relationship with a major high-street bank. A natural and intuitive manager, she is responsible for ensuring that the team continues to deliver a quality service.”
In the rural practice team, Alice Dearden Cobbett, a fluent Welshspeaker from Llandysul, brings with her sound legal training, alongside several years of experience working with thoroughbred stud horses.
After completing her law training at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at Leed’s BPP Law School, Ms Dearden Cobbett went on the take a postgraduate diploma in animal manipulation – later relying upon this expertise while working as an assistant in a number of racing and hunt yards.
During a recent career break, she restored a tract of land near Brechfa in order to establish a beef and sheep enterprise, to be bred from her family’s established stock.
JCP director and head of rural practice Rory Hutchings said: “Alice’s appointment helps to further enhance JCP Solicitor’s reputation in agriculture and rural affairs and we are pleased to welcome her to the fold.
“As well as a sound legal background, Alice’s very hands-on experience in the disciplines of rural life will prove to be, I’m sure, a real asset to us and to our clients.
“We look forward to working alongside her in offering the best possible legal expertise.”
Ms Dearden Cobbett added: “I am delighted to have joined JCP Solicitors and feel particularly at home in the rural practice team.
“I have a real affinity for rural issues and I am very much looking forward to working with the communities in and around south and west Wales and further afield.”
JCP Solicitors is one of the largest independent law firms in south Wales and has offices in Swansea, Cardiff, Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire. A forthcoming merger with Glamorgan Law, due April 25, will see it expand to become one of the top 200 UK law firms with additional offices in Caerphilly, Cardiff, Cowbridge and Pontypridd.