Making law easy: Ed Meikle’s first months at gunnercooke

Intellectual Property Partner, Ed Meikle, recently joined gunnercooke as part of a move towards a more flexible way of working, attracted by the freedom offered by gunnercooke’s  model after many years in traditional private practice.

Changing firms can feel intimidating, especially after years in traditional private practice. For Ed, the support he received early on eased that pressure. The onboarding team focused on the practicalities, keeping client work moving and helping him settle in quickly, so the move felt manageable rather than disruptive.

In his first weeks and months, Ed experienced a seamless transition, supported by effective systems, and a collaborative culture. Through early introductions to colleagues across the IP team and regular calls, he quickly became integrated into the firm.

Reflecting on his early experience, Ed shares what stood out most about joining gunnercooke, how the onboarding process was handled, and the advice he would offer to others considering making the move.

What made you decide to join gunnercooke?

I joined gunnercooke because of the freedom and flexibility, whether that’s choosing the clients we work with, reducing admin tasks such as time recording, or improving efficiency by avoiding unnecessary internal meetings. It enables a more personal and effective way of working, benefiting both me and my clients.

Were you nervous about anything when joining the firm? How did the team help?

A big worry of mine was how I would transfer files from my previous firm to gunnercooke, but the onboarding team were great in helping me get onto and used to the new systems and made sure everything was in order for me.

What stood out to you the most about gunnercooke’s onboarding process?

What really stood out for me was the speed of setting up the data room and facilitating the electronic transfer of client files. This was really reassuring as my previous firm said they were unable to help with the process.

How would you describe your first week?

The first week can often feel like a bit of a blur, but everything went very well and there were no issues at all. The secretarial support, particularly in opening new files, was excellent.

How would you describe your first few months?

My journey from my previous firm to gunnercooke was great. A seamless transition.

Who did you meet on your journey?

Nicky Androsov was my partner buddy and very kindly introduced me to some of the wider IP team, arranging for me to be added to a monthly IP catch-up call.

What helped you feel most integrated into the firm and our culture?

Joining Teams calls. My first one was with our European colleagues and then a monthly call with the Intellectual Property team. Everyone has been very welcoming.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining the firm?

I had a good chat with David Curd before I joined, after being introduced by Matthew. He confirmed much of what I suspected, but also shared some practical advice, in particular, arranging a good accountant during my notice period, before starting at gunnercooke, which helped smooth the transition.

You can read more about Ed and his practice here.