Essex-based law firm Birkett Long is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Field as the new Head of Commercial. In this key role, Tim will lead the firm’s distinguished teams in Intellectual Property, Education, Employment, Business, and Regulatory services, contributing to Birkett Long’s broad range of legal offerings.
Driving Team Success
With Tim’s leadership, Birkett Long’s teams are poised for continued success. The Intellectual Property team, which handles the complex needs of high-profile clients, will continue to implement innovative strategies that ensure effective protection and utilization of intellectual assets.
Tim acknowledges the significance of these specialist areas, stating, “Intellectual Property is a particular area of law that Birkett Long has strategically entered to offer expert advice. Our clients benefit from dedicated Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys who specialise solely in protecting and financially maximising their Intellectual Property Rights.”
In the Employment Team, including Birkett Long Human Resources (BLHR), Tim has repeatedly witnessed the significant value Birkett Long provides to clients. Tim observes, “I often see and hear of businesses running into trouble with employees and trying to resolve the issue in house rather than take expert legal advice. This almost always ends up in additional time and cost to businesses. BLHR is a great service enabling clients to have immediate access to expert HR advice, all supported and provided by qualified solicitors.”
The Education Team, a growing part of the Corporate Department, will continue to benefit from Tim’s leadership as he focuses on enhancing its impact in addressing the unique legal challenges within the educational sector. “Our Education Team is rapidly becoming a leading Special Education Needs (SEN) law provider. The team has worked hard to forge strong relationships nationally and is consistently achieving fantastic outcomes for so many families.”
Similarly, the Regulatory Team, which became part of Birkett Long’s Commercial Department three years ago, is crucial in providing clients with regulatory advice and legal services. “We have an experienced and well-connected team that can assist with all matters relating to health and safety, licensing, environmental issues, and other associated regulatory matters. The client feedback has been positive, knowing that they are working with a law firm that is able to meet all of their needs.”
Additionally, the Business Team, renowned for its expertise in commercial, corporate, and regulatory matters, will benefit from Tim’s vision to integrate and expand its support. Tim aims to connect various aspects of commercial law, offering seamless, strategic assistance to businesses at all stages of growth. Tim is also focused on expanding the Business Team with new recruits, bringing additional skills to enhance the team’s already exceptional commercial and corporate expertise.
Tim’s unique approach to balancing legal costs and desired outcomes, informed by his extensive experience with SMEs, will play a crucial role in assisting the whole of the Corporate Department to deliver practical, tailored advice to clients. He explains, “I always try to balance the risk to a client against the legal costs and desired outcomes. It is important to have a detailed understanding of your client’s business and objectives in order to provide sound commercial legal advice.”
This client-centric philosophy aligns every piece of advice with the client’s business objectives and risk appetite, instilling confidence in Birkett Long’s service approach. “I know the teams deliver great advice due to the great team leaders who are in place and recognised as leading individuals in their particular fields,” he adds.
He further notes, “We will continue to provide expert legal advice to our clients while providing a joined-up experience, connecting the various strands of the Commercial Department. Most likely, all our clients will have employment matters, Intellectual Property, and Corporate Commercial needs. We can work with our clients to help them grow their businesses on a sound legal footing. As risks and problems arise, we have a fantastic regulatory team to assist.”
He remarks, “I am pleased to be made Head of Department, and I am excited to be working closely with Team Leaders to seek to grow the Birkett Long corporate offering strategically.”
Commitment to Charitable and Community Engagement
Beyond his professional role, Tim’s commitment to community support is evident through his active involvement with local organisations such as Firstsite, Open Road, St Helena Hospice, Essex Community Foundation and Our Colchester.
His dedication to charitable work reflects Birkett Long’s broader commitment to community engagement. “Working with charities is important for me both professionally and personally. Charities provide a great support network and assistance to many who would otherwise have very little help. When possible, giving something back to your local community is something I believe in and is equally well supported by Birkett Long,” Tim explains.
Strategic Goals and Vision
Tim’s strategic goals include enhancing service integration across the firm’s various teams to provide a unified client experience. By leveraging the strengths of each team, Tim is committed to ensuring that clients receive comprehensive support across employment, intellectual property, corporate, and commercial matters. His vision focuses on helping clients navigate risks and seize opportunities on a solid legal foundation, providing a joined-up experience that supports business growth and meets business owner’s needs.
Tim aims to grow the Commercial Department’s Regulatory offering. “It is important we provide a comprehensive service to all our clients. This includes advising on matters of regulation and being able to support those clients if things go wrong.” While Birkett Long already has a strong regulatory offering, Tim envisions significant growth and development in this area over the coming years.
In alignment with Birkett Long’s vision of “Inspiring in Every Interaction,” Tim is committed to creating an environment where exceptional client service is the standard.
Under his leadership, the firm’s Commercial Department is well-positioned for continued success. The firm looks forward to seeing Tim’s strategic vision and the collective expertise of the teams drive forward its mission to deliver exceptional legal services and support.