Introducing Graham Jewell - Couchman Hanson’s newest Director

Corporate, Company and Commercial Law specialist Graham Jewell has joined the Couchman Hanson board. Let’s find out more about him.

It’s all change at Couchman Hanson. We’re thrilled to announce that Graham Jewell has been appointed a Director in addition to his role as Head of our Company and Commercial department. We sat down with Graham to learn more about him and his plans for the future.

Hello Graham. Congratulations on the new role. Can you tell us a little bit about your career so far?

I came to Couchman Hanson last May. My background is in the City, and I’ve worked at large regional law and boutique firms and with in-house experience, but growing the Company and Commercial department at Couchman Hanson was too good an opportunity to turn down. I moved out of London and now live nearby to our Haslemere office and I love being in this area. It’s really exciting to work more closely with clients in a way that I couldn’t do in the City or the bigger firms. 

I’ve worked with entrepreneurs starting new business ventures, taking them through that business lifecycle of investment rounds, scaling up, funding, all the way to exit. I also work on mergers and acquisitions, general company and commercial advisory work, and acting as a business legal advisor. I’m proud to build that rapport with clients so they don’t just think of me as just their lawyer; they think of me as a business guide and trusted advisor too.

How do you feel about being appointed Director?

I’m really proud. It’s a happy ship here. We don’t just say we treat people well. We actually do it. Daniel has created an amazing culture where we care about our people, and I’m looking forward to leading the great people we have forward. 

I’m genuinely excited to help take the firm to the next level from an already great place. I’m relishing the opportunity to grow the business while retaining the special culture that I’ve never experienced anywhere else.

What do you hope to bring to the new Director role?

As a company and commercial lawyer, I work very closely with businesses, directors, management and other key personnel. As a result, I’ve got a decent understanding of how good businesses are run, and I hope to bring some of that knowledge into my new role and help develop the company further.

I also want to bring a lot of enthusiasm and positivity into my new role, helping to generate an even greater rapport within the firm and showing everyone how even more special we can be as an organisation.

What makes working at Couchman Hanson different for legal professionals?

We’ve got a clear set of values across the firm, which we’ve taken time to work through. We try to involve everyone so everyone feels empowered. 

When we recruit, the first thing we look for is just a really good person who will fit in at the firm. We want people who will enjoy their work, bring their personality to their role and understand our values of honesty, respect, kindness and empathy, along with their high professional quality.

I don’t see an ‘us and them’ between the directors and anyone else in the firm. We’re all in this together and everyone brings something important to the table.

What are you most looking forward to about the future of Couchman Hanson and your role in it?

When I came to Couchman Hanson, it was already a great place. I had the opportunity to grow a business within a business in the Company and Commercial department. Now, I’m genuinely excited about what we can become, while still retaining our values and culture.

We want to provide the level of work that you find in the City and better regional firms, but with a real personal touch that you can’t necessarily find elsewhere. I’ve now got a chance to steer the firm in that direction and have an impact on the business side of the firm as well as the legal side. It’s really exciting.

Thanks Graham. All the best in your new role.

We also asked our Founder and Managing Director, Daniel Couchman, to talk about Graham’s new role:

‘Graham is a highly skilled lawyer whose enthusiasm and professionalism make him a perfect fit for Couchman Hanson. I am delighted that Graham has accepted the opportunity to join our board of directors and excited that he will play a key role in our future plans. At Couchman Hanson, we take pride in combining local commitment with top-level, specialist advice and Graham understands the importance of delivering those professional standards of service.’

Find out more from Couchman Hanson

At Couchman Hanson, our solicitors genuinely care about getting the best outcome for you. We’re highly professional, with ‘city’ level talent and experience, but also friendly and welcoming. Everything we do fits with our values of integrity, honesty and authenticity.

Call 01428 774756 or visit couchmanhanson.co.uk