Birmingham partners achieve global positions

DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has announced the appointment of two of its Birmingham-based partners to senior global positions.

Jon Stevens, managing partner of the Birmingham office and leading tax law specialist has been appointed deputy global head of Tax and Private Capital. This role will see Jon oversee a global team of more than 100 people - over 60 in Spain and 20 in the UK and Ireland.

Jon has worked in Birmingham for over 20 years and has experience of advising clients on a wide range of tax issues including corporate and property tax matters, group reorganisations and tax disputes.

Toby Askin, equally experienced in property development, investment and portfolio management, has been appointed global head of Real Estate. Toby, who is currently UK head of Real Estate, will lead and implement a strategy to grow the global Real Estate Team. The team comprises of 200 talented and experienced lawyers, across 17 offices and 10 jurisdictions and has worked on some of the industry's largest transactions.

These appointments complement the ongoing support from Birmingham-based Melanie Williams as head of DWF's Real Estate Sector and Hospitality Group. In addition to her role at DWF, Melanie also sits on the Board of Directors of the Colmore Business District (BID) and the Board of Citysave Credit Union.

These appointments form part of DWF's new internal operating structure - an important step forward in DWF’s strategy, which will help it to fulfil its aim of becoming the leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. It will see the Group move into three more streamlined and efficient global divisions of Legal Advisory, Mindcrest and Connected Services.

Jon, who will remain the office managing partner for Birmingham, said: "Both Toby and I are delighted to have been appointed to global leadership positions at DWF as we launch our new operating structure.

"We believe they reflect the strength and depth of expertise we have in our Birmingham office, where in addition to our global responsibilities, we will continue to focus on delivering outstanding services to our clients across the region."

The Birmingham office employs over 150 people and in combination with colleagues across DWF provides Legal Advisory, Mindcrest and Connected Services to clients regionally, nationally and internationally.