Breaking news: Acumen Law celebrates two new Partners

Acumen Law proudly announces the promotion of its Operations Director, Daniel Richards, and Alvin Ittoo, Head of Corporate and Director, to the position of Equity Partners within the firm. They join seasoned entrepreneur and Acumen founder Penina Shepherd, who began the firm’s journey back in 2007!

Since its inception, Acumen has steadfastly redefined the landscape of legal services with its innovation. Today, as it toasts to the latest milestones, Daniel and Alvin stand as shining examples of the firm’s ethos and vision.

Daniel Richards: from placement to partnership

“You will never amount to anything!”

That’s what Daniel’s parents were told by his teacher about Daniel, with Daniel present.

This statement and so-called ‘prediction’ has never left him and he set out to prove that teacher wrong, which he did in spades!

From his humble beginnings as a placement student in 2008, Daniel’s journey with Acumen has been nothing short of extraordinary.

With boundless passion and determination, he rose through the ranks, guided by the mentorship of Penina Shepherd.

Daniel’s route to his successful career and employment hasn’t been easy. Scarred with the notion that he is to amount to nothing, Daniel managed to get in to read law at university and as part of the course he worked hard to secure a placement with Acumen.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, as he steps into his new role as a co-owner at ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW and ACUMEN PEOPLE SOLICITORS, Daniel’s ascent symbolises the embodiment of the firm’s core values. His unwavering commitment to excellence, improvement of the firm and business acumen (pun intended) coupled with his deep understanding of employee satisfaction, positions him as a key force within the organisation.

In his own words, he acknowledges the endless support received at every step of the way.

“Looking back on my journey, it’s incredible to see how far I’ve come since joining Acumen as a placement student from university back in 2008. At that time, I had no experience, just a passion and a drive to learn. I am grateful to all my colleagues who have supported and guided me along the way, especially Penina Shepherd, who took a chance on me all those years ago.”

Alvin Ittoo: professional progression into partnership

A testament to perseverance and dedication, Alvin’s trajectory at Acumen exemplifies the essence of growth and opportunity.

Joining Acumen as a paralegal in 2013, he embarked on a transformative journey from trainee to Solicitor, then Head of the Corporate-Commercial department, then a Director, all culminating in his advancement to the new co-owner status.

Alongside Penina Shepherd, Alvin has not only honed his legal expertise but also personified the spirit of collaboration and fellowship that defines Acumen Law. His steadfast dedication to client service, team happiness and his exceptional ability to navigate complex legal challenges make him an invaluable asset to the firm.

In a heartfelt online post, Alvin stated: “I joined ACUMEN as a paralegal in 2013, qualified as a lawyer with the firm and eventually had the honour of working side by side with Penina Shepherd as a director at the firm. It has certainly been quite the journey.

“Along every step of the way I have had the support of my wonderful colleagues at ACUMEN and I must thank all of them as I would not be where I am without them, in particular Penina from whom I have learnt so much and who has been a truly inspirational mentor over the years!”

The Acumen team is celebrating the new milestone in its journey. Here is a cheers to the next chapter of their greatness!

So what is it with the zebras?

Just as the white horse with the black stripes (or is it a black horse with white stripes…?), stands out in the savannah landscape, so does Acumen in the legal landscape. Founded with a clear vision to revolutionise the way business legal services were provided in the marketplace, Acumen has since become a beacon of innovation and integrity in the legal industry and was voted the FT Top50 Innovative Law Firms in the UK & Europe.

From humble beginnings as a one-woman band, the firm has grown to serve thousands of clients, including large multinational businesses and private individuals, both nationally and internationally and is known to be the hosts behind some of the most exciting business events.

Talking of which, the 14th annual ACUMEN BUSINESS CONVENTION is coming up on 23 May 2024. On the day of writing these words, there are only a dozen or so tickets left, so if you wish to join the over 250 business leaders who have already secured their ticket, now is the time! If you see Daniel and Alvin at the Convention, please do congratulate them on their exciting news.