Gary Lumby MBE has been appointed as the new CEO of Roche Legal, a private client law firm based in Yorkshire.
- Lumby brings a wealth of experience as the former UK director of small business banking and a growth expert.
- He aims to enhance Roche Legal’s growth, leveraging their international probate work, especially in the USA.
- Rachel Roche’s commitment to technology and internationalisation sets the firm apart in private client law.
- Rachel Roche, co-chair of NYSBA’s London chapter, expresses confidence in Lumby’s contribution to the firm.
Gary Lumby MBE has been appointed as the chief executive officer at Roche Legal, a prominent private client law firm situated in Yorkshire. Lumby, who previously served as the UK director of small business banking at Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks, is widely recognised for his expertise in business growth and mentoring. He expresses enthusiasm for collaborating with Rachel Roche, the firm’s owner, to build upon her significant achievements, notably in cross-border probate involving the United States.
Lumby will maintain his role as a portfolio non-executive director across the UK while fulfilling his new responsibilities. He remarked, “I am genuinely excited about working with Rachel and her team, accelerating the growth they have already seen to become the very best private client law firm in the UK.” He commended Rachel Roche for her dedication and success, evidenced by her co-authorship of a book on starting a law firm for the Law Society. Lumby looks for businesses with a growth mindset, eager to take risks and invest, and acknowledges the rarity of internationalisation within private client law.
Roche Legal’s distinctive strategy includes international links, particularly with the USA, providing opportunities for collaboration with other UK law firms lacking similar expertise. According to Lumby, this positions Roche Legal uniquely within the sector, allowing them to conduct international work effectively. He further highlighted the firm’s progressive stance on technology integration, noting their willingness to adopt new systems to maximise opportunities—a contrast to the general trend of technical conservatism in law firms.
For over a decade, Lumby contributed as a growth expert on the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Programme, mentoring Rachel Roche as recently as last year at the Oxford Saïd Business School. He noted the rigorous criteria of the Goldman Sachs scheme, underscoring Rachel’s exceptional approach towards internationalisation, technological adoption, and personal branding. These elements, according to Lumby, suggest substantial potential for Roche Legal to establish itself outside London as a leading choice.
Rachel Roche, who also serves as co-chair of the London chapter of the New York State Bar Association, expressed enthusiasm for Lumby’s appointment, recognising the value of his extensive business experience. She stated, “Gary is an acknowledged growth expert and brings a wealth of business experience to his key role with Roche Legal, and we are all thrilled to be working with him.”
Gary Lumby’s strategic appointment augurs well for Roche Legal’s future growth and international expansion.
