Bill Willcocks

President of Bristol Law Society, Coralie Mckeivor Presentation Speech 6 November 2025

It is never easy to read these tributes without mentioning the winning individual’s name in the first minute, and so it will become very clear very quickly who tonight’s President’s Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to….. including to the individual concerned! But to keep the suspense going just a moment longer, I will start with some words from those who have worked with him over the years:

“He is an exceptional leader who has been instrumental in creating a positive, caring and almost familial culture in the firm”

“He has been a pivotal figure in the development and success of the firm, and specifically I feel he has been instrumental in my own progression and success…..Being a mentor is not just about sharing knowledge; it’s about creating a safe space where individuals feel supported, valued, and empowered to reach their fullest potential”

“During his time as Managing Partner, the relationship between the Partners was extremely harmonious. The mutual respect and trust which has been established amongst the partners permeate throughout the firm”

It is clear that this individual has made a real mark on those who worked with him and the development and culture of the firm he led.  And it seems fitting in 2025 which marks the 10th anniversary of the merger of Barcan Woodward and Kirby Sheppard, that his contribution to the firm and the wider community is recognised.

I am sure many of you will have guessed who the award winner is now, but let’s reveal a little more….

His route into law was not a typical one, after dropping out of university for the first time, he went on to manage various tyre depots before securing a role on a Management Training Scheme at Debenhams. It was at this time that a passion for becoming a lawyer was ignited and at the age of 26, he started his law degree at the University of Bristol. He then completed his Law Society Finals at Bristol Polytechnic (now UWE) in 1991.

After graduating with a law degree, he secured a training contract at Veale Wasbrough (VWV), taking seats in various departments. It was, however, the personal injury department which he fell in love with and after successfully completing his training contract, he remained at Veale Wasbrough as a Personal Injury lawyer from 1993 – 1998 where he worked primarily on employers’ liability claimant work for union members, crossing both employment and personal injury law.

In 1998, he moved on to pastures new at Kirby Simcox, continuing employers’ liability work for union members as well as a general mix of  personal injury work.  With the blend of employment and personal injury law, he grew the department and the workload along with the assistance of Samantha Castle when she qualified.

In 2001 he became a Partner and was made Managing Partner Of Kirby Sheppard in 2010 following a merger with local law firm Sheppards. In 2013 he entered into negotiations with Partners at Barcan Woodward on behalf of Kirby Sheppard about merging the two firms. In 2015 Barcan+Kirby was born and he became the Managing Partner in 2017.

During his leadership the firm has flourished, not just commercially, but also providing a more diverse place to work with a 67% increase in the number of Partners at the firm and a 2% rise in the female to male Partner balance.

The number of employees has surged 34% from 139 staff members in 2015 to 186 in 2024. Financially, turnover increased by 47%, a true reflection on the plausible work he has achieved.

The firm have won a multitude of accolades during his tenure – check out their website, its an impressive list! AND I should also point out that a good number have come from these annual awards including three times winner of Law Firm of the Year (under 20 partners) , and to add to the list the CSR Award, a Team award, several support team members awards and lawyer and junior lawyer awards too!

The legal landscape in Bristol is ever evolving but it is clear that there remains a need for locally grown firms such as Barcan+Kirby who continue to serve the community in which they are based and provide great client service. The firm boasts some of the biggest family and residential conveyancing departments in the South West.

Without doubt this individual has clearly achieved an incredible amount throughout his entire working career making a real difference to his clients lives, and his journey of becoming a Managing Partner is captivating and inspiring, not only for staff but also for the Bristol legal scene where he has influenced the careers of many individuals he has worked with over the years.

Since stepping down as the firm’s Managing Partner, he has stepped into the Consultant role, helping Compliance Partner, Gemma Geoghegan, transition to her role as COLP and also helping the firm with lease queries, and just providing a helping hand when needed… it is clearly a hard gig to fully retire!!

So how to end this tribute – perhaps to quote the words of the man himself…..?

“I leave the firm in very good hands as I retire and I am sure that the culture of the firm will continue. Caring and respect for each other (clients, colleagues and the wider community alike) lies at the heart of everything we do, and I am proud to have played some part in that. Most of all, though, I am looking forward to not setting my alarm clock!”

This year’s President’s Outstanding Achievement Award goes to Bill Willcocks!