Peter Jackson to retire from his role as chief executive of Hill Dickinson after 40 years with the Liverpool law firm. Tony McDonough reports

Peter Jackson is to retire from his role of chief executive of Liverpool law firm Hill Dickinson.

His announcement comes 40 years after he joined the St Paul’s Square practice in 1983. He will step down from his role at the end of the financial year, April 30, 2024. Current business services group (BSG) head Craig Scott will be the new CEO.

A marine and transport specialist, he has been with the firm since 1983 became managing partner of Hill Dickinson in 2005 and became chief executive in 2016. He will stay with the firm in an advisory capacity and will become a member of the board.

Craig Scott has been with the firm for more than 13 years as a corporate partner and former head of corporate at the practice. Fiona Parry, will be the new head of BSG.

Established in 1810, Hill Dickinson is an international commercial law firm which employs around 950 people across 10 offices. Six of these are in the UK and four in Hong Kong, Singapore, Piraeus and Monaco. It is one of the UK’s top 50 law firms.

“The past 18 years at the helm of the firm have been both exciting and rewarding and the business is now exactly where we want it to be,” said Peter.

“Since 2005, Hill Dickinson has grown from revenues of £31m to £128.6m as of April 2023 – our sixth year of consecutive growth. The firm is a highly trusted brand with people of great integrity and extremely loyal clients.

“Craig was the clear and unanimous choice for Hill Dickinson’s new CEO. He has driven major growth in revenue and in team strength and depth in the BSG, which is now the firm’s largest division.

“Under his strategic leadership we will continue to remain a large independent, profitable legal firm, with ambitious growth plans for all our services. I am very confident about the future of the firm with Craig at the helm.”

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With a headcount of more than 300 people, the BSG currently contributes close to half of the firm’s total turnover. BSG has made 18 partner lateral hires during the past two years and has a further six partners who are expected to join the team shortly.

Craig Scott added: “Put simply, my focus is going to be continuing to invest in the retention of our valued people, strategic recruitment of high performing talent and pushing on with our plans for further sustainable profitable growth.

“The record growth in profit levels that we have achieved in that recent three-year period has meant that we have been able to retain our cornerstone contributors of the Hill Dickinson practice.

“In turn, we have been able to invest significantly in acquiring talented ambitious people as part of planning the long-term foundations for future success across all our chosen growth locations.”

Hill Dickinson chairman, Jonathan Brown, also said: “What Peter has achieved during four decades at the firm as a partner, custodian and CEO to help guide its evolution as a firm is a credit to him.

“His personal dedication to the success and stability of Hill Dickinson during his long tenure has been an inspiration to us all.  Peter will be working closely with Craig and the team over the coming months to ensure a smooth succession.”