Regional law firm, Gardner Leader has appointed new HR Director, Sarah Hunt, marking another significant step in cementing its position as one of the leading legal services providers across the south of England.
Since 2023, Gardner Leader’s team has grown by 19%, with the firm now employing more than 200 members of staff across its seven locations, which include offices in Newbury, Thatcham, and Maidenhead in Berkshire, Swindon in Wiltshire, as well as Oxford, Windsor and London. Its highly experienced team of legal professionals work across six specialist teams each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and individuals.
Sarah’s appointment aligns with the firm’s focus on strengthening its reputation as an employer of choice and its commitment to attracting and retaining the best legal talent in the region. Upholding the highest standards of performance, accountability and transparency, this commitment extends to employee benefits, best practices, and its broader social and environmental responsibilities. Additionally, the firm actively supports initiatives that benefit the communities it serves, charity and the environment.
With over 30 years’ experience, Sarah’s background includes working in both SME and large corporate environments across a variety of sectors, including utilities, financial services and IT services under both private and public ownership. Before joining Gardner Leader, Sarah held positions at Thames Water, Prudential, and at IT provider ESP Global Services.
Sarah’s expertise includes HR transformation, including building HR functions and people focused strategies from the ground up. She is also skilled in delivering a full suite of HR policies and systems, covering employee relations, learning and development, training programmes, reward, recruitment, performance and line management, and employment law.
Gardner Leader’s HR Director, Sarah Hunt, said: “Since joining Gardner Leader’s team I’ve been particularly struck by the firm’s culture and its caring, inclusive approach to all its employees. I’m looking forward to getting to know the team and the firm, and ensuring we have the right HR strategy in place to support our ambitious goals and the right mixture of tools to help drive the highest levels of engagement across the firm.
“People spend a lot of time in the workplace and it’s important that they feel valued and fairly treated, enjoy what they do, have opportunities to learn and grow, and understand how they contribute to the success of the business. HR plays a key function in delivering this and ensuring that employees and the business succeed.”
Managing Partner, Derek Rodgers added: “It’s fantastic to have someone of Sarah’s stature bring such a wealth of expertise and knowledge to our team. As we continue to grow, attracting and retaining the best talent remains a priority. Sarah has hands-on experience in establishing effective pathways for professional development and building strong, people-focused cultures. We look forward to the positive impact Sarah will have on our team and our firm’s future success.”
