Temple Bright adds pensions expertise with Foot Anstey lateral hire

16/01/2015

Groundbreaking lawTemplebright 09-01-15-7 firm Temple Bright has today been joined by Foot Anstey’s head of pensions Comron Rowe, who will launch its pensions practice.

Rowe, pictured, left, with Temple Bright co-founder Tim Summers, will work out of the firm’s Bristol office and serve clients across the UK.

Rowe qualified at Simmons & Simmons in the City and joined Foot Anstey in 2008, building its pensions team from the ground up and becoming a partner in 2011.

The latest in a series of specialist hires, he brings to Temple Bright a wealth of experience in all aspects of pensions law, advising clients including major national names, South West businesses and City law firms without pensions expertise. He has been consistently ranked as a leading pensions specialist by legal guides Chambers UK and Legal 500.

Rowe said: “I’m excited to be joining Temple Bright, a young but already heavyweight player in a sector which is in the midst of transformation. The firm’s streamlined model, combined with a star cast of senior City-trained lawyers, make it unique in the UK legal market as a law firm which combines innovation with rigorous professional standards.

“With offices in Bristol and London and a growing number of instructions from major corporates, it’s the right time for Temple Bright to add pensions to its armoury. I’m delighted to be making this happen and I know my clients will respond positively to the firm’s compelling message.”

Temple Bright was established in Bristol in 2010 as a three partner firm operating a tech-enabled, partner-only model enabling it to promise clients greater certainty on fees and a more commercial approach to advising.

On the strength of this model Temple Bright has undergone rapid growth to the present 35 partners and market-leading expertise in technology and clean energy. In 2013 the firm opened its London office in the booming technology quarter just north of the City. It now has 17 partners based in Bristol and 18 in London.

The recruitment of Rowe further extends the firm’s offering beyond its original corporate, real estate and litigation focus. Hires during 2014 included Clarke Willmott insolvency partner Phil Winterborne; the Nabarro renewable energy team of Tom Bainbridge, Louisa Cilenti and Sandy Abrahams; Osborne Clarke and Bond Dickinson tax lawyer Carol Tricks and former Ashurst finance partner and head of debt Nick Avery.

Co-founder Tim Summers said: “Today we welcome Comron, another highly-regarded specialist. Bringing him on to the Temple Bright team further boosts our ability to handle larger clients and deals, with the greater creativity and value that our partner-only model allows. It makes us increasingly viable as an alternative to the City, with a signature style of advising – technically excellent, commercial and down to earth.”

This article appeared in the Bristol Business Newsletter on 16 January 2015.