From 2 November 2026, Paul and Gerard will join Clare Mellor, Chief Executive, and Michelle Cronin Commercial Director on Thompsons’ four-person Executive Board. 

These appointments mark an important next step in the development of Thompsons’ leadership structure and reflect the firm’s confidence and ambition for the future. 

All four members of the Executive Board have built their careers at Thompsons. Together, they bring extensive knowledge of the firm, its people and clients, and a shared understanding of the history, values and purpose that have shaped Thompsons over generations. 

Thompsons is proud of its unique place in the trade union and labour movement and of its long record of standing up for working people. The new Executive Board is equally focused on what comes next: continuing to grow and develop the firm, embracing new opportunities and technology, investing in its people and ensuring that Thompsons remains a progressive, successful and market-leading law firm. 

As Client Strategy & Union Relations Director, Gerard will lead the firm’s client relationship, marketing and business development strategies. Gerard Stilliard said: 

“I’m enormously proud to be taking on this role. Thompsons has a unique history and a purpose that matters as much as ever today. Our relationships with the trade union movement, our clients and the people are central to who we are and why we exist as a law firm.  

For me, this role is about building on our achievements and looking forward: creating new opportunities, growing the firm and ensuring we continue to be relevant, ambitious and influential in a changing world. I’m really looking forward to working with Clare, Michelle and Paul, and colleagues across Thompsons, on that next chapter.” 

As People, Technology & Infrastructure Director, Paul will bring together three areas that will be central to Thompsons’ future development: its people, its technology and the infrastructure that supports the delivery of its legal services. His remit includes the firm’s People Strategy, digital transformation, AI and innovation, and ensuring that Thompsons has the capability, culture, systems and resources required for the future. 

Paul Shevlin said: 

“Thompsons has always evolved while staying true to what makes us different. I’m excited by the opportunity we now have to bring together our people, technology and infrastructure to help shape the next stage of the firm’s development. 

Technology and AI bring significant opportunities, but our greatest strengths remain our people, our expertise and the knowledge and relationships we have built over many years. I want us to combine those strengths: to be ambitious about change and innovation while making sure it serves our people, our clients and our purpose.” 

The appointments form part of the wider evolution of Thompsons’ organisational structure, creating an Executive Board designed around the firm’s strategic priorities and the opportunities ahead. 

Clare Mellor, Chief Executive of Thompsons Solicitors, said: 

“This is an exciting moment for Thompsons. We are a strong, successful and progressive firm, with an extraordinary history and a very clear sense of who we are. These appointments are about building on those strengths and looking confidently to the future. 

The four members of the Executive Board have all grown our careers at Thompsons and between us have a huge depth of knowledge about our firm, our clients and the movement we are proud to be part of.  

We understand our legacy and are immensely proud of it. Our responsibility now is to use that experience to take Thompsons forward: to grow, to innovate, to develop our people, to embrace new opportunities and to ensure this remarkable firm is every bit as relevant and successful for the future as it has been throughout its history. 

I’m delighted to welcome Gerard and Paul to the Board and very much looking forward to what the four of us, working with colleagues across Thompsons, can achieve together.”