Chester law firm Aaron & Partners bestows partner status on chief executive

Jul 21 2011 by Katie Oakes, Chester Chronicle

A CHESTER law firm that made history 20 years ago when it appointed a non-lawyer as chief executive is leading the way once again after bestowing partner status on its current chief.

Andy Duxbury, of Aaron & Partners in Chester, will be one of the few law firm chief executives in the country to be a non-lawyer partner.

Senior partner Simon Edwards said the move would help to ensure the future success of Aaron & Partners.

“Bringing Andy into the partnership is the natural evolution of the process,” he said.

“Andy plays a key role in the running of the business and that is consolidated by bringing him into the partnership.

“Just like other companies, law firms have to be run well and efficiently.

“Andy has done that for us including a successful response to the challenges of the recession and since then we have continued to grow. We’re confident that this will help us to continue to take the firm from strength to strength.”

Aaron & Partners set the trend back in 1990 when it became the first firm in the country to have a non-lawyer chief executive.

Andy added: “I’m delighted to become a partner at Aaron & Partners, it is very rewarding for me to be acknowledged in this way. I also believe it is very far-sighted of the practice to recognise the importance of business expertise as well as legal know-how in ensuring the future success of the firm.”

Andy began his career in pharmaceuticals and later worked in the automotive and fuel industries. He moved into professional services in 2000 and held the post of business development director at a Manchester law firm before being appointed chief executive at Aaron & Partners in 2006.