Eight reasons they joined gunnercooke, as heard by our partners 

Every partner at gunnercooke chosen to join the firm for their own reasons. Whether that be the flexibility the model gives them over running their own practice, gunnercooke’s purpose to be deeply responsible, or the people and culture at its heart.  

Some partners highlight the annual Symposium (the best networking opportunity you’ll ever have!), not being bogged down by meetings and time tracking, and the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and friends for life. 

Here’s what our partners had to say this year about why they joined gunnercooke:  

Liz Turner, Property Litigation Partner, who celebrated her first anniversary: 

“For me it’s the mix of excellent quality work, supportive colleagues who are all specialists and experienced at what they do, and the flexibility to design my workdays to suit me and my life outside work which has really made my experience at gunnercooke different to other firms,   

“I also love the socials and that the firm is working so hard to give back to other organisations. There are so many wonderful opportunities to be involved with, and people are generous with their time and support. Oh, and did I mention gcTrust? They are amazing!  I’ve been so well supported since I started.”  

Rita Sheth, Commercial Advisory & Commercial Litigation Partner, who also joined the firm in 2024: 

“My number one highlight has to be the Symposium. It was an amazing event and opportunity to network with other gunnercooke partners from everywhere around the world, including the international offices.”  

Paul Menham, Employment Partner, who has been with the firm ten years: 

“It’s allowed me to focus on what I enjoy most, being a lawyer. I love the legal work, interacting with clients, dealing with litigation, and giving advice. These are the things I trained for, and without sounding too big-headed, they’re the things I’m good at. 

“At the same time, I’ve been able to avoid the aspects of traditional law firm life that I didn’t enjoy long strategy meetings, constant travel, time away from home, and office politics. My clients have benefited too. I’m more available to them because I’m not caught up in those distractions.” 

Rebecca Kelly, Commercial & IT Partner who joined the firm in 2015: 

“It’s made me much more commercial and practical, and definitely happier!  

“I feel like a trusted advisor now, not just a lawyer. I can advise with the client’s commercial goals in mind, not just the legal side. That was Darryl’s vision for all of us, to become true trusted advisors, and I really feel I’ve achieved that.” 

Dispute Resolution Partner, Dr Heiko Plassmeier, who joined in 2024:  

“I’m now fully responsible for myself, and no one cares about whether, how much, when, or where I work. That said, it took me a while to grasp that I’m allowed to spend my so-called “core working hours” on non-work-related activities, provided my client work allows for it. 

“As someone who also works as an arbitrator, I particularly appreciate the fact that I rarely have to decline arbitral appointments due to conflicts of interest. I also enjoy being able to keep the fees I earn from that work, rather than having to pass on part or all of them to someone else.” 

Helen Miles, Pensions Partner, who joined five years ago:  

“Well, what’s been quite unexpected is just how positive some longstanding contacts and new connections have been about the platform that we have for giving bespoke legal advice.  

“You know, some people have come back to me after almost 20 years. They really see me being able to deliver advice direct now with the kind of support that they want. But that’s been quite surprising to me. People don’t forget you like you might think they might do.”  

Rashmi Dube, Dispute Resolution Partner, who joined in 2020: 

“It’s a game-changer, especially for senior lawyers and associates looking for something different.  

“You have your own client base but also gain access to firm-generated clients. You’re part of a larger structure that pitches for exciting work, often outside your usual remit. Again, the key difference is collaboration, you’re not in a silo, and you have a real voice at the table.  

“More than that, the leadership has taken time to cultivate the culture. They’ve listened to partners, built a collaborative ecosystem, and made sure we’re not just working; we’re enjoying our work.” 

Antonello Leogrande, Italian Dual-Qualified Commercial Partner, who celebrated his 10 year anniversary:   

“The gunnercooke model has been instrumental in developing my cross-border practice. The firm brings together partners from a range of cultural and legal backgrounds, creating a diverse environment. This diversity provides me with opportunities to collaborate on international matters which has expanded my network.”