Stephen Nixon becomes Managing Partner at Enoch Evans today. Steve is a litigation and dispute resolution specialist who started his career as a Trainee Solicitor at Enoch Evans in 2008 and became a Partner in 2012.
He picks up the reins from David Evans who joined Enoch Evans in 1985, and became head of the commercial and corporate departments in 2000 before becoming Managing Partner in 2007. As well as being Managing Partner, David also chaired the firm’s Financial and Management Committee which is responsible for the management of the firm and for Enoch Evans’ strategic growth and development. David celebrates 40 years of service with the firm this year including 17 years as Managing Partner. He becomes Senior Partner from 1 August.
Reflecting on his tenure as MP, David said: “I’m really proud of what has been achieved over the last 17 years and am grateful to the management team for the support they have provided to me in my efforts to grow and develop the firm. By working together, always remaining focused on delivering the best possible service to clients, and being open to new ways of working, we have built a strong and stable firm with a long history and a bright future. I look forward to supporting Steve as he takes up his new role as Managing Partner by helping to ensure a smooth handover and retaining strategic input as Senior Partner.”
“There have certainly been challenges over the years,” said David, “including navigating two recessions and a global pandemic. I was particularly pleased with how we met the obstacles presented by Covid and came out of it with better working practices. That extraordinary period of time led to the acceleration of initiatives that we were already planning. Whilst we were already predominantly paperless, the period of the pandemic enabled us to explore working in a more flexible way and the greater use of technology for the benefit of both clients and staff. Another highlight would have to be the opening of two branch offices, in Sutton Coldfield and Cannock, which has further expanded our reach beyond Walsall and helped us to build a strong brand in the West Midlands.”
The great-grandson of Enoch Evans who founded the firm in 1884, David has overseen the growth of the business in to the three-site, multi-disciplinary firm that it is today. With the firm having celebrated its 140th anniversary last year (2024), it is well placed to build further on its success to date under new leadership.
Incoming Managing Partner Steve Nixon said: “The firm has quadrupled in size during David’s term as Managing Partner and we are very grateful to him for his outstanding years of service. I’m looking forward to building on that success and continuing to grow the firm in the coming years.
“We have a strong client base and an exceptionally talented group of lawyers and staff. Investing in the development of all our people is critical to the firm’s future growth and this will continue to be a focus in the coming years. Retaining and recruiting talented lawyers and staff is the best way to ensure that our clients receive the best possible technical advice and highest levels of service. Safeguarding a positive culture and embracing new technology to facilitate expansion and growth will be key themes for me as Managing Partner.”
Clients, speaking to leading directory, Legal 500, said: ‘I have only ever received great support and expert considered advice from the Enoch Evans team’ and ‘[Enoch Evans] delivers broad and first-rate commercial disputes expertise. It has strength and depth, and all its lawyers are very competent, approachable and a pleasure to work with’.
