Leadership Team

Executive Committee

Jonathan Agar

Chief Executive

Jonathan is responsible for Birketts’ strategic direction and ensuring that the firm’s 117 Partners and over 1,000 colleagues across five offices are all focused on providing the first class legal advice and client service that can be expected from the eastern region’s leading legal services provider.

James Austin

Senior Partner

James divides his time between advising clients and his management responsibilities where he works closely with our CEO, Jonathan Agar. As Senior Partner he chairs both the Partnership Board and the quarterly Partners Meetings and sees one of his most important functions as being the guardian of the firm’s culture.

Tim Sarson

Chief Operating Officer

Tim is the firm’s Chief Operating Officer taking responsibility for managing the Finance, Risk & Compliance, Operations and Change Management teams. His day job revolves around managing and changing the business processes that underpin the delivery of legal advice and to our clients to help ensure that the firm remains the eastern region’s leading legal services provider.

Chris Schwer

Partner – Head of Department (Property)


As Head of the firm’s Property Division, Chris has extensive management and leadership responsibilities. He is Client Relationship Manager for many of the firm’s largest clients and is often consulted on strategic, structural and other issues, over and above pure transactional property matters.

Adrian Seagers

Partner – Head of Department (Corporate / Commercial Services)

As Head of the Corporate Services Division, Adrian has responsibility for the services provided by Birketts’ teams specialising in Insurance, Corporate Tax and Banking and Finance. This also extends to a shared responsibility for the Firm’s services in Employment, including Employee Incentives, Immigration and Investigations.

Alex Davey

Partner – Head of Department (Litigation)


Alex qualified as a Solicitor in September 1999 and joined Birketts in 2005. He is a Partner in our Shipping and International Trade Team and is Head of our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team.

Jack Royall

Partner – Head of Department (Private Client)

Jack was admitted as a Solicitor in September 1999. He joined Birketts in 2005 and is a Partner in our Agriculture and Estates Team and is Head of our Private Client Advisory Team.

Shaun Savory

HR Director

Shaun is the firm’s HR Director and a member of the Partnership Board. He has full responsibility for providing a proactive HR function, including learning and development, working closely with the CEO, Partners and Directors to design and implement HR strategies to meet business objectives.

Laura Shumiloff

Business Development and Marketing Director

Laura is responsible for Birketts’ marketing, communication and business development strategy across the estate ensuring Birketts’ reputation continues to grow and expand.

Tom Wagstaff

Tom Wagstaff

Strategic Development Director

Tom works with business leaders at Birketts to identify opportunities to grow existing practice areas and to explore the creation of new legal services or business models. Tom’s remit also includes identifying opportunities to introduce complementary non-legal services aligned to our core legal competences.

Sarah Ralph

Sarah Ralph

Risk and Compliance Director

Sarah joined Birketts in 2010 and, at a strategic level, is responsible for designing processes, policies and procedures to identify and manage threats to the achievement of Birketts objectives. As the Risk and Compliance Director she leads a team of 12 to cover all compliance aspects for Birketts.

Shaun Folan

Operations Director

Shaun joined Birketts in July 2016 after 31 years’ service in the British Army in a variety of leadership and management roles. Shaun is the firm’s Operations Director and a member of the Executive Committee and responsible for design, implementation and execution of the operational plan in accordance with the firm-wide business strategy.

Marian Squire

Head of Business Change and Projects

Marian joined Birketts in 2019 and is responsible for the design and delivery of projects across the firm that improve efficiency through better process, use of technology and application of skills.  Marian has a background in managing programmes of business improvement and cultural change.

Russell Edwards

IT Director

Russell is a highly experienced IT professional with a track record of developing strategic solutions and leading technology teams across diverse sectors. Russell joined Birketts as IT Director in 2022, and is responsible for leading and executing the firm’s technology strategies, aligning them with overarching strategic business objectives.

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