Leading commercial law firm Acuity Legal has made three key appointments to strengthen its award-winning team.
The Cardiff-based firm, which also has offices in London and Swansea, has appointed Siân Furreedan as head of talent, a newly-created role, Craig Griffiths as a partner in commercial projects and public law and Jonathan Stroud as a solicitor specialising in dispute resolution.
Both Mr Griffiths and Mr Stroud were previously employed by Acuity and are returning to the firm.
Ms Furreedan joins Acuity after 20 years spent working in HR at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where she specialised in talent development, diversity and engagement. She is an expert in leadership and is passionate about developing people.
Her role, a new position for Acuity, will involve identifying team members’ learning and development needs and designing solutions to meet them.
She will also create career development plans and new roles for individual team members and develop bespoke training sessions to enhance skills.
Of her new role, Ms Furreedan said: “Making training and development opportunities available is crucial for people at all levels of an organisation, whether a junior paralegal or a partner. It keeps people engaged and helps them to grow as individuals and representatives of the business.
“I wanted to work for a firm where I would have the autonomy to create a training and development system from the ground up that could really support employee growth and help people to thrive in their roles.
“With my private sector experience I am used to a very fast-paced and dynamic environment, and I really connected with the values Acuity holds as a company.”
Mr Griffiths, who studied law at Swansea University and did his LPC at Cardiff University, has significant experience in the public sector, having worked with a number of local authorities on public law and commercial contract issues.
He first joined Acuity in 2008, and returns to the firm after six months away.
He said: “I am looking forward to re-joining Acuity at an exciting time in their development, with continuing growth and the opening of our Swansea office. Acuity has always undertaken high quality work and has been involved in many innovative projects over the years. I am excited at the prospect of working with new clients the firm has gained in recent months, as well as helping to continue with the development of Acuity’s public sector offering.”
Mr Stroud re-joins Acuity having previously trained with the firm. He has experience in advising both commercial and public sector clients in a wide range of commercial and corporate disputes including breach of contract claims, professional negligence, partnership and director/shareholder disputes and enforcement proceedings.
Rachelle Sellek, managing partner at Acuity Legal, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Siân to the Acuity family and to welcome Craig and Jonathan back into the fold.
“I’m sure all three will do an exceptional job for the firm as we continue to grow and take on new business.
“Siân’s role is a new one for us and reflects our commitment to our team members and most significantly to their ongoing growth and development.”
Acuity Legal employs more than 70 members of staff across its three sites, with its recently opened Swansea office set to create at least 10 new jobs.
The firm has enjoyed a particularly strong year with growth across all areas of expertise as its client base expands both in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.
Recent successes have included advising on the redevelopment of Central Square in Cardiff and new investment for Bluestone. Acuity Legal is ranked as a top tier firm in the 2016 UK Legal 500 and Chambers legal guides.