Swinburne Maddison LLP (Swinburne Maddison), a leading law firm in the North East, has announced the appointment of three heads of department, newly created roles designed to enhance leadership and operational efficiency as the firm continues to grow.
Gemma Wilkinson, Lyndsey Pitt and Wayne Christie follow in the footsteps of Business and Development Director, Phil Hourigan and Marketing Director, Caroline Smith – the first members of the leadership team to be appointed.
The appointments reinforce Swinburne Maddison’s commitment to compliance, people development and innovation whilst seeking to deliver excellence in legal services.
Gemma Wilkinson, who qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and has a Master’s degree in Advanced Legal Practice, becomes Swinburne Maddison’s Head of Legal Compliance.
With extensive experience in compliance at three major regional firms, Gemma brings a wealth of knowledge in handling a broad range of regulatory matters. She will be responsible for ensuring firm-wide regulatory compliance, mitigating risks, and maintaining the highest professional standards. She said:
“I knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a legal career, and because Swinburne Maddison is a firm I have grown up with, I was delighted to accept the Head of Legal Compliance position. The opportunity to join such a committed and talented team and support the firm’s ambitious expansion plans is truly exciting.”
With over ten years of experience working in HR – primarily in stand-alone roles, which have given her all-around experience – Lyndsey Pitt becomes Head of People and Culture. She will focus on talent management, employee engagement and fostering a positive, inclusive workplace culture to attract and retain top legal talent.
Speaking of her decision to join Swinburne Maddison, she said:
“I have never worked with such a friendly group of people who genuinely care about their colleagues. While I bring strong experience in people management, employee relations and wellbeing, I am keen to build on this expertise while supporting the management team.”
The third appointment, Wayne Christie, is Swinburne Maddison’s new Head of Operations and Innovation.
After obtaining his law degree 14 years ago, Wayne spent the last six years in an operational capacity at another law firm, combining legal practice with a passion for technology-driven solutions.
Commenting on his role, Wayne said:
“This is the perfect role for me, allowing me to leverage my flair for technology and operational expertise to support the firm’s expansion. I am committed to championing a digital first, client-centric approach that enhances internal processes, streamline administrative functions, and drives technological advancements to improve the client experience.”
Welcoming Gemma, Lyndsey and Wayne to the team, Managing Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution team, Jonathan Moreland, said:
“Over the past five years, Swinburne Maddison has seen consistent year-on-year growth in turnover, profitability and headcount. To sustain this momentum, we want to ensure that our expanding business has dedicated functional specialists who can support our legal teams effectively.
“We continue to win work across the region and beyond. As we look to the future, our goal is to maintain sector growth while delivering exceptional service to our existing clients.
“These newly created strategic roles will be instrumental in refining our client journey, ensuring seamless service delivery, and enabling our legal teams to focus on their casework without unnecessary administrative burdens.”
These recent appointments bring the firm’s headcount to 90.
