Nationally recognised law firm Buckles has announced the promotion of its current CIO, Mel Smith, to become the firm’s new Chief Operating Officer.
Having joined Buckles in 2013 in an IT Service Management role, her rise through the business has mirrored the firm’s ongoing success, which saw it deliver its highest ever annual revenue of £17.4M, at the end of financial year March 2024.
Smith will be responsible for overseeing all non-departmental operations, including IT, Facilities, Client Services, Front of House and Legal Administration, as the firm seeks to further streamline its operational structure and improve its high-quality support and client service.
Buckles CEO Duncan Jackson, said of the promotion: “Mel has been our Chief Information Officer, through the most successful period in the firm’s long history and this new role will make the most of her unique skill set.
“Highly experienced and commercially minded, her strategic vision has been instrumental in our success and she has encouraged us all to think differently, whilst contributing significantly to the culture of the organisation.
“I am confident that, as we enter this next phase in Buckles’ development, Mel will prove to be an even stronger member of the firm’s senior team, helping us demonstrate the strength of our service offering and deliver excellence across the business.”
Buckles’ new Chief Operating Officer, Mel Smith, commented: “This is an immensely proud time for me personally and my career at Buckles stands testament to the firm’s commitment to developing and promoting talent from within.
“The importance the firm places on all the departments that support the delivery of legal services, shows it takes a fully rounded team to deliver an excellent customer experience, from how they’re greeted in reception to how easy we make it for our legal professionals to communicate with our clients.
“My role makes me responsible for leading a large team dedicated to improving the client experience, with the application of new and emerging technology, including how we deploy genuine AI solutions, rather than just automating processes.”
Jackson concludes: “Mel is a unique individual who approaches each new challenge with an enthusiasm that is infectious, encouraging those around her to push themselves to new highs. Her promotion not only rewards her efforts thus far, but sets Buckles up for growth, ensuring our business is scalable and delivering on our strategic growth plan.
