As KPMG forges ahead into expanding its legal services offering, the big 4 firm has hired Christina Blacklaws, president of the Law Society of England and Wales from July 2018 to July 2019, for a part-time ‘strategic advisory role’ to support development of its legal practice.

Another dimension

Ms Blacklaws is joining a team of 120 to work on client solutions, talent engagement initiatives and legal innovation strategies, KPMG stated. She will also focus on supporting women in law and leadership. Nick Roome, UK head of legal services, said “Our team is a fast-growing specialism within KPMG, with clients more frequently requiring integrated advisory solutions. We currently have a broad range of expertise across the legal spectrum but having Christina on board will give us another dimension. Her knowledge, expertise and ear-to-the-ground approach when it comes to the issues impacting our sector will help give us an additional edge in the market.” Ms Blacklaws explained, “We’re operating in an increasingly challenging business environment, but, equally, it is an exciting time of growing enlightenment: we all know our sector needs to evolve to best support our clients and our colleagues alike.”

Concerns expressed

However, some concern has been expressed from various and anonymous sources about the speed with which Ms Blacklaws jumped from a top leadership position in the legal profession to take a big 4 role. At the Law Society, Ms Blacklaws championed empowering women in the legal profession, and also focused on social mobility and innovative and sustainable legal practice. As a family specialist she previously practised at TV Edwards and Co-Operative Legal Services.