DSW launches legal arm with appointment of new MD

Business advisory group, Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) has expanded its legal offering with the launch of a dedicated new division, DSW Legal, spearheaded by James Mallender, who has been appointed Managing Director.

As a challenger legal platform, DSW Legal is built to attract leading talent looking for an alternative to traditional partnership models. Building on the success of DR Solicitors, which DSW acquired in 2024, DSW Legal will focus on a number of key sectors, supporting DSW’s wider professional services offering to build out the group’s full business advisory platform.

Heading up the new division, James brings thirty years’ experience from across both leading City law firms and high-growth legal businesses. Having qualified as a real estate lawyer with SJBerwin, he made the move to international firm Womble Bond Dickinson, becoming a partner in 2008.

Realising the partnership model wasn’t for him, James left in 2012 left to help grow the legal start-up, The Legal Director. As one of the first platform law firms, James built and ran the firm’s recruitment function, alongside developing its go-to-market and overall strategy. By the time he left in 2025, the business had grown to around £7m in turnover and a team of over 50 lawyers, establishing itself as the UK’s largest provider of fractional general counsel services to businesses.

As Managing Director of DSW Legal, James’ experience will be instrumental in building out the new legal arm for DSW, with a focus on recruiting legal professionals with ambitions to set up their own business, with the backing of an established professional services brand.

DSW first entered the legal market with the acquisition of Guildford-headquartered DR Solicitors in 2024. The platform business provides consultants with work across the medical profession, including acting for GPs and dentists, giving them flexibility to choose how much work they take on, and when. Since the acquisition, DR Solicitors has added an additional 10 consultants, with revenues increasing by 11%.

James Mallender, Managing Director at DSW Legal, said: “Having built my career on both sides of the legal profession, I’ve seen firsthand how ambitious professionals are increasingly looking to alternative models to take control of their career. DR Solicitors has already proven itself as a model that can stand up against traditional models, providing the flexibility and control many look for, so the opportunity to expand this track record across DSW Legal provides a true challenger platform for the industry.

“I’m now focused on building out the offering, recruiting ambitious legal professionals who want the opportunity to be more entrepreneurial while still benefitting from a supportive environment with a strong brand and back office.”

Shru Morris, CEO of Dow Schofield Watts, added: “
Building on the progress we’ve made in our legal offering through the acquisition of DR Solicitors, DSW Legal provides a strong platform to continue building out that capability and better meeting client demand. It also offers an attractive home for top legal talent seeking an alternative career path, enabling them to establish their own business under a recognised brand, with the benefit of back office support, strategic input and start up funding.

“With his strength of expertise in growing challenger legal platforms, James is an excellent addition and will be integral to building this new division out further, leveraging the power of DR Solicitors to attract new talent and create a full service offering.”