Wragge & Co LLP has appointed Nicola Mumford as London managing partner. Nicola, one of the firm's senior dispute resolution specialists, takes over the role from Paul Howard from 1 January 2008. Paul steps down after four years as London managing partner and will retire from the partnership at the end of the financial year.

Senior partner Quentin Poole said: "Paul has done a great job developing our City presence. He's been a superb ambassador and advocate for the firm. Nicola is a first-class lawyer with an impressive commercial mind and total commitment to excellent client service. Able to build strong long-term relationships, she is the perfect person to lead our push for continued success in London."

Nicola Mumford said: "Wragge & Co delivers its full-service offering through London and Birmingham offices, giving clients the right team for their work with the cost advantage our model brings. We have a great story to tell and a real opportunity to show the market why and how we offer something distinctive."

As well as her new London managing partner role, Nicola will continue to handle disputes. A strong track record includes a Court of Appeal victory in November. Her team secured the recusal of Mr Justice Singer from a multi-million pound case following controversial comments made about Sheikh Khalid Ben Abdullah Rashid Al Fawaz. A council member of the International Bar Association's Legal Practice Division, Nicola also leads the firm's international arbitration practice.

Wragge & Co's Waterhouse Square office opened in 2000 to provide a base for the firm's top-five IP team following its merger with Needham & Grant. During Paul's tenure the office has trebled in size to 160 people, including 20 partners, permanently based there and advising on a full range of legal issues. Highlights from the past 12 months include deals for Close Brothers Private Equity and Lloyds TSB Development Capital, a $400 million biofuels deal for BP, regeneration projects in Hammersmith, Thamesmead and Kent.

Top 25 UK law firm Wragge & Co generated turnover of £112.6 million in the last financial year. New clients included major corporates Birds Eye, Singer & Friedlander and United Biscuits. The firm also won places on all panels of the Government's Catalist Legal Services Framework Agreement. Pensions and IP secured recognition for their work with two awards – Managing Intellectual Property's UK law firm of the year and the FT Business Pensions and Investment Provider law firm of the year.

Strategic moves saw Wragge & Co unveil plans for offices in China and Hong Kong, giving it a base from which to capitalise on opportunities arising in the Far East. In addition to continued financial growth, international expansion and winning new clients, Wragge & Co enhanced its reputation as a great place to work. It is the only law firm to feature in the Financial Times 50 Best Workplaces in the UK. Having appeared in the FT list more than five consecutive times, Wragge & Co is a 'best workplaces laureate'. It is also the only law firm to appear in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For every year since the survey began in 2001.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 685 2785, Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 685 2708 or Rebecca Mee on +44 (0)121 685 3819

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.