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Tag: andy-wansell

Innovation without inertia: How law firms can move from thinking to doing

Posted on by Alex Molyneux

How can law firm leaders address the difficult decisions behind change and ensure that innovation is successfully embedded across the firms they manage?

This was one of several questions posed to our co-managing partner Charlie Leveque and chief operating officer Andy Wansell in our fireside chat at this year’s LegalTechTalk. Chaired by Line Lolk Thomsen, chief transformation officer at Plesner, the discussion centred around the challenges faced by law firms which often stall progress and the approach leaders can take to overcome the many obstacles.

Charlie and Andy spoke of their respective experiences, highlighting the importance of embracing innovation and seeing it, and the rapid development of AI and technology, not as a threat but as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with clients by meeting their evolving expectations. The most successful firms will be those that are agile and ensure that they act quickly and decisively. In addition, firms must have the bravery to halt a project that isn’t working and moving onto something new – what you aren’t doing is as important as what you are doing.

LegalTechTalk is one of Europe’s leading legal technology and innovation conferences, taking place on 17–18 June at the InterContinental London, The O2. Find out more about the event here.

LegalTechTalk 2026: Driving innovation in the legal sector

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

We will be part of this year’s LegalTechTalk, where three of our senior leadership team will be speaking on two panels to share insights on the legal innovation landscape, including how law firm leaders can successfully embed innovation across the business and the impact of innovation on the lawyer-client relationship.

Innovation without Inertia: How Law Firms Can Move from Thinking to Doing

In a fireside chat, our co-managing partner Charlie Leveque and chief operating officer Andy Wansell will discuss how law firm leaders can overcome the challenges which often stall progress and ensure a firm embraces innovation by being agile and acting decisively.

Marriage Counselling for the Client-Attorney Relationship

In a panel discussion alongside other experts, our director of innovation Michael Vasalos will explore the challenges that can put strain on the relationship between lawyers and their clients and discuss how to shift from transactional service delivery to genuine strategic partnership.

LegalTechTalk is one of Europe’s leading legal technology and innovation conferences, taking place on 17–18 June at the InterContinental London, The O2. Find out more about the event here.

Finalist for Business Services Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2026

Posted on by Jess Brady

We have been shortlisted for Business Services Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2026.

The Legal Business Awards is a key annual event in the UK legal sector, highlighting excellence in law across more than 26 different categories. The awards aim to showcase individuals, teams and firms in the UK legal space who have made a significant mark in the profession or within their firm. The awards ceremony will take place on the evening of Tuesday 29 September at the JW Marriot Grosvenor House London, where the winners will be announced.

Our shortlisting recognises the contribution of our business services function in shaping the firm’s strategy and driving its success, with particular focus on the achievements of our People & Culture team, including its provision of HR consultancy directly to our clients. Through our innovative Client Sight framework, which forms the architecture of how the firm operates, we put our clients and their priorities first by understanding how they see us, what they value and what they need.

Client Sight underpins the firm’s approach to all aspects of its business service function and guides our decision-making, from people and recruitment, to innovation, to business development and marketing. This enables us to foster genuine collaboration and build relationships across all functions, pushing us outside the more restrictive lines of a traditional law firm. We are delivering measurable outcomes, attracting remarkable talent and creating deeper client relationships.

This latest recognition of the firm’s business services function follows the news of us winning Business Development Team of the Year at the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026. We were also recently named as a finalist for Law Firm of the Year: The Independents at The Lawyer Awards 2026.

Harbottle & Lewis supports SimPal with donation of laptops

Posted on by Alex Molyneux

In a world where being digitally connected is no longer a luxury but a necessity, two million people in the UK are without any form of device.

Being digitally connected means having access to healthcare services, having opportunities to find work, and being connected to loved ones and wider communities. Without this, people are left isolated and vulnerable.

We have donated 28 of our unused laptops to SimPal, a charity which fights against digital poverty. With the vital support of business mobile company 1823 Group who arranged for the devices to be refurbished, each laptop will go to those who need it most. Watch this video to find out more about how SimPal is working with 1823 Group to tackle digital exclusion.

Chris Lewis, founder of SimPal, said:

“I want to extend a massive thank you to Harbottle & Lewis and all the organisations who have stepped forward to help us drive real change. We are grateful for the incredible support from Kerry and her team which means we are able to help more of those who find themselves in digital poverty. We must act to close the digital divide and it is donations like these which help us to make a difference.”

Kerry Angel, our director of IT, said:

“On behalf of Harbottle & Lewis, my team and I were delighted to be able to help SimPal by donating another batch of our old laptops to a great cause. With the help of 1823 Group, these laptops will take on a new lease of life by helping those struggling in digital poverty. We hope that what is a small gesture on our part will make a big difference to those who really need it.”

Founded in 2016, SimPal is a UK charity run entirely by volunteers which provides mobile phones and pre-paid SIM cards to people living with cancer and other life-threatening conditions, or who are in poverty, to enable them to stay connected to loved ones, healthcare services and their communities. Its services are open to people of all ages and backgrounds, with no means testing, ensuring that as many people as possible can access the support they need.