Ashurst appoints Chief Business Development Officer

Laura has over 20 years' experience of strategic business development, gained in regional and global roles across Australia, Asia and the UK in a range of industries and practices. She joins the firm from Clifford Chance where she was Director and Global Head of Client & Market Development for Global Financial Markets, with responsibility for managing the firm's global finance and capital markets practice and bank client focus programme. Laura also previously managed Freshfields' global business development and marketing programme across the financial institutions sector and ran the dedicated global FIG CRM programme.

Global managing partner of Ashurst, Paul Jenkins, said:

"Laura has a fantastic track record of developing and implementing business strategies, including new market segments and new product opportunities. Her demonstrable expertise of driving revenue and providing leadership for high performing BD functions across multiple jurisdictions, will play a critical role in helping us deliver for the business and our clients."

Laura Nicholls commented:

“The point we are at in legal services market transformation and the role that BD can help play in that makes it is great time to be joining a firm with the ambitions, strengths and platform that Ashurst has. Working with the Executive Team, partners and BD function to drive some impressive results for the business is a great opportunity and I am very much looking forward to joining."

Laura will report into Global Managing Partner, Paul Jenkins, and will sit on the Executive Team.