Shoosmiths Appoints David Palmer as New Head of Access Legal

NORTHAMPTON, England, July 18, 2011 -

Shoosmiths has announced it has appointed David Palmer has the
new head of its consumer legal services operation Access Legal.
David has been appointed to drive Access Legal forward after a
successful first 18 months.

David will be taking over from the current head of consumer
services, Judith Dorkins, who has worked for Shoosmiths for 20
years, and spent months helping to develop and launch Access
Legal.

Judith Dorkins, who is retiring to pursue other interests,
commented on David taking over from her: “David is an experienced
business leader who had developed success across a wide range of
sectors and for some of the most challenging and innovative
international companies.

“He has just the skills we were looking for to take Access Legal
to the next level in the journey to become a leading and trusted
provider of high quality legal services to consumers.”

David Palmer, new head of consumer services, href="www.access-legal.co.uk/">Access Legal, commented:
“This is a wonderful challenge at what is an exciting time for the
consumer legal services market. To be the leading player as we
intend in this brave new world we must offer legal expertise
coupled with traditional service values, delivered in a modern way
that deploys the best practices from other fast-moving consumer
sectors. I’m looking forward to making this happen.”

Before moving to Access Legal, David has enjoyed a wide ranging
career, including roles such as director of the UK personal cards
business of Citigroup, international marketing head for US private
equity and investment banking group Robert W Baird, and head of
personal customer marketing for Royal Bank of Scotland’s card
division.

Access Legal was first launched in February 2010, and marked its
first year anniversary at the start of 2011 with an impressive set
of launch-year statistics.

It recorded a 178% increase in direct enquiries, saw web
enquiries up more than 100%, staff referrals and member claims
climbed from 1% to 11% and it experienced 25 times more enquiries
through recommendations.

About Access Legal:

From helping customers buy a new house to settling a legal
dispute or claiming compensation for an injury that wasn’t their
fault - Access Legal have it all covered. Whatever legal obstacles
life throws in a customer’s way, Access Legal from Shoosmiths can
help them tackle them.

It has specialists in everything from selling homes to
employment rights, motoring law to href="www.access-legal.co.uk/services/personal-injury-solicitors-56.htm">
personal injury solicitors and href="www.access-legal.co.uk/services/personal-injury-solicitors/making-a-personal-injury-claim-141.htm">
making a personal injury claim.

Access Legal will protect assets, uphold consumer rights,
provide href="www.access-legal.co.uk/services/conveyancing-51.htm">conveyancing
services, guide customers through a coroner’s inquest; even advise
them if they want to make a Will.

PR contact:

Alastair Gray
PR & Communications Manager
Shoosmiths
The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7SH
+44(0)3700-864096

href="www.access-legal.co.uk/">www.access-legal.co.uk

.