Leading South Devon law firm Wollen Michelmore LLP’s latest appointment sees a significant strengthening of the company’s business law team.
Tony Welford has been appointed to head the team in order to offer London-quality services to South Devon business clients including the tourism, agricultural, retail and manufacturing sectors.
Tony is making a welcome return to Devon from his previous post as a partner with Stephens Scown in Truro where he substantially grew the firm’s corporate team.
Born in Tiverton and educated there at Blundells School, Tony went on to Cambridge University, where he studied modern languages (French and German) in the first year, then converted to law. He trained at the highly-respected City firm Allen & Overy, working in the corporate team for eight years. Two of these years were spent on secondment to the London Stock Exchange where he helped rewrite their rules on conditions for listing shares and debt instruments, propectuses and listing particulars.
After time spent working on flotations of international companies like TNT, and the privatisations of BT, British Gas, TSB, BAA and others, Tony decided to leave London to become a partner with Bristol firm Veale Wasbrough for eight years.
Tony said: “I am now delighted to be able to return to my Devon roots and take on this new role as head of business law. I’ve already become involved in a school academy conversion and look forward to advising a wide range of clients through the area.
“Although I am based in Newton Abbot I will be working throughout Wollen Michelmore LLP’s offices in Torquay, Paignton and Dartmouth with my team including Owen Hill, Simon Mole and Tom Briant Evans.
“Wollen Michelmore LLP is an expanding firm with an excellent reputation at a particularly exciting and vibrant stage of its lengthy history. I am looking forward to making my long and varied experience and expertise available to supplement and enhance the firm’s established services to business clients in the region.”
During his spare time, Tony, who has three sons, enjoys watching rugby and sailing.
