One of the biggest and oldest law firms in the Midlands has appointed its first female managing partner.

Wright Hassall announced today that Sarah Perry (pictured) has taken over from Richard Lane, who becomes senior partner of the Leamington-based practice.

Perry, who trained at Wright Hassall, was promoted to partner in 1998.

Perry said she was ‘looking forward to building on the considerable success the firm has achieved in recent years and taking the firm forward to achieve our ambitious plans for growth’.

The firm’s 270-strong team includes 145 lawyers and 39 partners. According to its latest equality and diversity statistics, women account for a higher proportion than men of solicitor, fee-earner and business support roles. One in five female employees works part-time.

After seven years as senior partner, Nick Abell has been appointed company chairman. Abell, a director at the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said the firm ‘provides a credible alternative to the top 50 law firms in the market’.