Social justice law firm, Thompsons Solicitors, has appointed Rakesh Patel, the firm’s head of employment rights strategy, to its executive board.

Mr Patel’s appointment comes just weeks after the firm announced Clare Mellor as its first female CEO.

Mr Patel joined the social justice law firm in 2001 from a background of working in Law Centres and has been head of the firm’s employment rights strategy for five years. In addition to developing the firm’s employment rights strategy, planning, policy, service quality and business development, he has handled a wide range of employment cases, with an emphasis on discrimination.

 

We can only offer the high quality services that we do thanks to the strength in depth of the talented and committed team we have at the firm and I am excited to take on what is a newly designed role working closely with all our employees.

Rakesh Patel

Mr Patel takes up the role of client relations and talent director, and will play a crucial role in shaping the internal strategy to enable the firm’s team of over 500 lawyers - spanning 18 UK offices - to deliver the best legal service possible to Thompsons’ trade union and private clients.

Mr Patel commented: “Thompsons Solicitors continues to go from strength-to-strength, despite a government hostile towards the Labour and trade union movement we are proud to represent and in the midst of a global pandemic. We can only offer the high quality services that we do thanks to the strength in depth of the talented and committed team we have at the firm and I am excited to take on what is a newly designed role working closely with all our employees.

“Thompsons is an ideal workplace for radical, energetic lawyers who are looking for an alternative to a corporate career. 

“I’m excited to help mentor the next generation of trade union and social justice lawyers, from a diverse pool.  

Clare Mellor, Thompsons’ chief executive, said: “I’ve worked with Rakesh for nearly a decade and he is an incredible asset to the firm, bringing a huge amount of experience and expertise.

“I’m delighted Rakesh has joined the executive board. We have ambitious plans to drive further growth in the years ahead and Rakesh’s input will be imperative to that success.”