International law firm Asserson has appointed a highly-regarded senior legal figure as a partner to head its Manchester office.
Michael Clavell-Bate was a partner at Eversheds Sutherland for 25 years and held several key leadership roles, including 15 years as senior partner in Manchester and serving as a global board member.
He spent more than 34 years at Eversheds in total before retiring from the practice two years ago, after which he took up a number of consulting roles with companies in the north west.
Michael, a former president of Manchester Law Society, is renowned for his expertise in advising on commercial disputes and defamation law and for providing pragmatic, business-focused advice to clients.
Asserson was founded in 2005 by Trevor Asserson and has grown into a full-service international practice with 10 partners and more than 75 lawyers.
It is relocating its Manchester office to Arkwright House in the city centre to accommodate its growing team.
Michael said: “Joining Asserson is a proud moment for me – it’s a forward-thinking firm with an exceptional team of talented lawyers who have a strong reputation for delivering high-quality work to an impressive client base.
“I admire the feel and ethos of the firm, and the chance to join Asserson and help steer its growth in the UK was too good to pass up.
“There are great opportunities ahead in Manchester, London and beyond to expand the practice and I’m extremely excited to play my part to help develop Asserson’s footprint.”
Howard Rubenstein, managing partner of Asserson, said: “This is an exciting milestone for the firm.
“Our invitation to Michael to join Asserson is a clear statement of intent and underlines our commitment to continue growing the firm, with a particular emphasis on expanding our UK presence.
“His acceptance is a very strong endorsement of our unique capabilities, culture and value proposition from someone whose opinion really means something.
“Michael’s leadership and experience will bring multiple benefits to our clients and to our people. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
