Commercial Technology Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
The Client
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) is a leading international law firm and one of the UK’s Top 20 firms by revenue. With offices across the UK and the United States, the firm advises a diverse client base ranging from global corporations and financial institutions to high-growth technology businesses and ambitious start-ups. Its Technology and Digital practice is particularly well regarded, holding Tier 1 rankings both nationally and within the South West market.
As the firm’s technology practice continued to expand, WBD identified an opportunity to strengthen its leadership team in Bristol, supporting both regional growth ambitions and the continued development of its national technology offering.
The Requirement
WBD was seeking a Commercial Technology Partner to become a key figure within its highly successful Commercial team. More than simply filling a vacancy, the appointment formed part of a broader growth strategy designed to further enhance the firm’s reputation within the technology sector and increase its presence across the South West.
The successful candidate needed to be an established technology lawyer with a strong market profile, a proven track record of winning and developing client relationships, and the credibility to advise on complex technology transactions, digital transformation projects, data protection matters, and emerging technologies.
Equally important were leadership and relationship-building skills. WBD wanted someone who could mentor and develop junior lawyers, collaborate effectively across practice groups, and act as an ambassador for the firm within the wider technology ecosystem, building connections with businesses, investors, universities, and industry bodies.
The Solution
Novo worked closely with the leadership team of WBD’s Commercial practice and its internal talent team to understand the strategic importance of the role, the dynamics of the technology practice, and the type of individual who would thrive within the firm’s collaborative culture.
We conducted a targeted search across leading national, international, and boutique law firms, focusing on senior technology lawyers with strong commercial practices, recognised market profiles, and demonstrable business development success.
Our approach included:
- Mapping senior technology partners and rising partner talent across the UK legal market
- Identifying individuals with strong client relationships and established sector credibility
- Assessing leadership capability, mentoring style, and growth potential
- Evaluating cultural fit and alignment with WBD’s collaborative values
- Managing a discreet and highly targeted search process
The Outcome
Womble Bond Dickinson successfully appointed a Commercial Technology Partner who brought deep sector expertise, a strong market reputation, and a genuine passion for developing both clients and people.
The new Partner quickly established themselves as a visible leader within the practice, strengthening client relationships and has begun supporting the development of the wider team. His appointment reinforced WBD’s position as a leading adviser to technology businesses and created a platform for continued growth across the South West and nationally.
