New partner at leading law firm

Lynsey Smith's appointment follows Lauren Blackman’s, who joined the firm - which has bases across the region including Swindon - last year as a Partner in the Residential Property team.

The move marks a busy period for the firm, which has welcomed eight new starters since the beginning of April across its seven office locations. Gardner Leader now employs more than 200 people across the south of England.

Listed in the 2025 Legal 500 for both Commercial Litigation and Franchising, Lynsey joins from IBB Law and brings two decades of experience to her role. As a specialist in franchise disputes, Lynsey has acted for a broad range of clients, including well-known brands in the franchising industry.

Her commercial dispute resolution work also includes breaches of contract, injunctions, fraud and misrepresentation claims. 

Ms Smith said: “I’m extremely excited to have joined Gardner Leader. Having spent much of my career in the South East, it’s a name I’ve long been familiar with.

"Everyone has been incredibly welcoming; I’m looking forward to bringing my commercial litigation and franchising expertise to the team, helping us to continue to deliver extraordinary outcomes for our clients.” 

The firm has more than tripled in size over the last 10 years, expanding across the region, and its team of legal professionals work across six specialist teams, each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and to individuals. 

Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner at Gardner Leader, added: “With a wealth of knowledge in commercial litigation and franchising, having someone of Lynsey’s expertise join the wider Dispute Resolution and Gardner Leader teams is hugely valuable.