New partners boost strong commercial team

The arrival of two new partners has boosted the commercial team across Harrison Clark Rickerbys’ offices, attracting top talent from the Midlands and beyond.

Specialist technology lawyer Charles Drayson, based in Worcester, brings more than 25 years’ experience working with IT and software firms to the team – he said: “Because my experience of IT ranges from programming in the 80s to the latest developments in commercial use now, clients can talk to me about complex projects without needing to explain everything.”

Working largely with software and service providers who sell business-to-business, Charles has also worked in-house, so has plenty of experience of negotiating within the sector.

Leading education sector expert Emma Swann, who will be based in the Wye Valley office, is a member of the Department for Education’s academies working group and has led on more than 140 academy conversions. She has advised Diocesan Boards of Education and worked with many multi-academy trusts (MATs) on constitutional matters, advising on a wide range of issues including governance, exclusions, parental complaints and safeguarding.

She said: “I’m looking forward to building up the commercial team in the Wye Valley office but also to working on academies and with the wider education sector across the firm.”

Robert Capper, head of the commercial team and head of sectors for Harrison Clark Rickerbys, said: “Emma and Charles are great additions to our team and will support our development across the firm – they both work in fields where there is real potential for growth and have established reputations for excellence.”