Shoosmiths has two entries in this year's The Lawyer Hot 100 2014. Chief executive Claire Rowe is included in the 13-strong management group; while partner Emma Gibson is among 12 leading corporate lawyers.
Published annually, the eagerly awaited Hot 100 recognises individuals who have contributed significantly to the legal world and enhanced the reputation of law firms, chambers or other organisations for which they work.
It says of the national law firm's chief executive: "Claire Rowe has been on the board at Shoosmiths since 2000 and chief executive since 2009. Under her leadership the firm has undergone a steady transformation from aspiring regional to successful national with a network of 10 offices.
"Rowe repositioned the firm's private client offering to be less dependent on high-volume personal injury work and oversaw the merger with Scottish firm Archibald Campbell & Harley on 1 October 2012. The move, creating ACH Shoosmiths, was the firm's first foray north of the border.
"Alongside all this she coordinated the firm's conversion to an LLP and oversaw a major rebranding and restructuring exercise, aligning the firm's culture and helping to attract a number of high-profile lateral hires and team acquisitions."
And about Gibson it says: "Emma Gibson spent six years as a successful businesswoman in the leisure sector before switching to law.
"She is now a highly regarded private equity lawyer and heads the Shoosmiths' Thames Valley corporate group.
"In a particularly successful year for Gibson, her team completed 15 deals last year, many of which ran consecutively.
"Highlights included the £111m sale of domiciliary care services provider Enara Group to Mitie Group and advising Minerva Education Finance on the acquisition of Palatinate Schools Holdings.
"Gibson is also director of the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and voluntarily chairs the partnership's Access to Finance group, which helps to provide funding strategies for small and start-up businesses."
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