Gardner Leader rounds off year of growth with three new appointments

12th December 2024, Berkshire: Leading regional law firm, Gardner Leader, has announced the appointments of three new solicitors, bringing more than 60 years’ worth of collective experience to the firm. 

Joining Gardner Leader’s 200 strong team, the firm’s latest additions include James Fox as a Partner in the Business team, Mark Izquierdo as Partner in the Real Estate team, and Stephanie Scullion as an Associate in Gardner Leader’s Wills, Probate and Estate Planning (WPEP) team. 

The latest round of hires marks a significant 12 months of growth for the firm, which has seen 32 new team members join, an increase of 16.5%, including Vicky Schollar, the firm’s Head of Employment, at the beginning of the year, and Partner, Lauren Blackman, who joined the Residential Property team in April. 

James Fox has over two decades of experience advising clients on small, medium and high-value commercial contracts and negotiations across a variety of sectors including government, technology, retail and general outsourcing. James spent five years as in-house counsel at outsourcing firm Capita, focusing on contract restructuring and relationship management, and before joining Gardner Leader, was a Senior Solicitor at Dentons. James is active in advising in relation to the adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence. 

Mark Izquierdo, who began his legal career in 1995, moves from Cooper Parry Law LLP. He has a wealth of knowledge and skills gained in Thames and Blackwater Valley law firms. Mark’s core areas of expertise include land development (residential estates and commercial units), secured lending and asset management work (for investment portfolio landlords and tenant occupiers) and he works closely with owner managed businesses on property transactions. 

Joining from Clarke & Son Solicitors, Stephanie Scullion brings 10 years of legal experience to Gardner Leader’s WPEP team. Stephanie specialises in a broad range of private client matters including drafting Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate, estate administration and general estate planning. 

James Fox, Partner in Gardner Leader’s Business team, said: “Having spent more than two decades delivering commercial guidance to clients across the business sector, I’m extremely excited to bring my expertise to Gardner Leader. The firm has an outstanding reputation in its fields which is backed up by the work of its brilliant team and successful expansion programme, and I’m looking forward to contributing to that and to our growing Oxford office under the leadership of Partner Sally Addis.” 

Mark Izquierdo, Partner in Gardner Leader’s Real Estate team, said: “It’s a real pleasure to have joined Gardner Leader at such an exciting time for the firm. I’m driven and ready to support the continued growth of the award-winning Real Estate team. I’m passionate about meeting and working closely with all our clients and eager to complement and strengthen longstanding relationships with a wide regional network of well-respected contacts and introducers.” 

Stephanie Scullion, Associate at Gardner Leader, said: “Since joining Gardner Leader I’ve been really impressed with the knowledge amongst the team and attention to detail given to each case. I have enjoyed getting to know our clients, which is what makes my role so rewarding. I look forward to building on these relationships and I can’t wait to see what the firm can achieve in the coming months and years.” 

Gardner Leader has been at the heart of the Thames Valley community for over 125 years, with offices in Newbury, Thatcham and Maidenhead. The firm has tripled in size over the last 10 years, expanding across the South of England, with offices in London, Windsor, Swindon and Oxford. Its highly experienced team of legal professionals work across nine specialist teams each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and individuals. 

Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner at Gardner Leader, added: “We’re delighted to have James, Mark and Stephanie join the team. It’s been a brilliant final quarter for us, with award wins, industry recognition, and the team’s growth all showing that we are on the right path. 

“As a firm we are committed to delivering peace of mind to all our clients and James, Mark and Stephanie’s appointments will play a key role in helping us to deliver on this goal.” 

Ends

Editors notes

With offices in Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Swindon, Oxford and London, Gardner Leader is a leading regional law firm across the Thames Valley and south of England, offering a wide range of legal services for businesses and individuals. 

In the Legal 500 prestigious guide for 2022 the firm was described as ‘shining above all with their approachable and friendly way of doing things’, with Partner Niamh Minihane named as a “Next Generation Partner”, and Katie Dyson, Partner, singled out as a “Rising Star.” 

In 2024 the firm won LawNet’s ‘Law Firm of the Year - £6m turnover and above’ award, a title it last won in 2016, and was highly commended in the ‘Best Innovation’ category. In the same year, Gardner Leader also won ‘Law Firm of the Year’ at The Royal Berkshire Property Awards. In 2018 the firm won ‘Best in Business’ and ‘Best in Customer Service’ awards in the Newbury Weekly News award, and in 2016 it won the Halsbury Legal Award in Business Development. Other awards include the LawNet Excellence in Employee Engagement award (2015), Highly Commended in the Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year category in the 2015 National Conveyancing Awards and Commended. In 2024, the firm was named as the ‘Best SME’ at the Maidenhead & District Chamber of Commerce (MDCC) Community & Business Awards. 

The firm was first founded in 1895. It has over 200 members of staff. Its team of highly experienced and friendly solicitors are all specialist, specifically dedicated to their areas of expertise. Each team is driven by what matters to the client and committed to delivering results. 

Gardner Leader services to business and services to individuals include: 

• Corporate (e.g., M&As, venture capital & private equity transactions, management buyouts and shareholder agreements) 
• Commercial (including commercial contracts, IP, IT and procurement) 
• Real Estate for Businesses 
• Life Sciences 
• Dispute Resolution 
• Employment (for individuals and businesses) 
• Family (such as family breakdowns and divorce and pre-nuptial agreements) 
• Residential Property 
• Wills, Probate and Estate Planning 
• Charity 
• Crime 

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