Team

James co-founded Kindleworth in 2012 and is the firm’s CEO. Alongside leading Kindleworth day to day, James is heavily involved in working with founder partners to help launch and grow their firms. James brings significant experience in shaping and designing new firms from a very early stage, before often leading the wider Kindleworth team in tackling all aspects of building and launching those firms. Once launched, James often works with the Founders and Management teams to grow the firms and help realise the partners’ ambitions. James has spent his career working within the legal sector and prior to founding Kindleworth, held senior operational and leadership roles at UK firm Olswang having started his career in HR at UK firm SJ Berwin.

Beau leads Kindleworth Technology which was launched to deliver best of breed technology and IT services to specialist law firms. Beau acts as fractional IT Director for clients, advising management teams on technology roadmaps and future strategy. He is also responsible for Kindleworth Technology’s IT team who support clients with all aspects of technical design, implementation and the delivery of proactive and effective day-to-day IT support. Beau joined Kindleworth in 2015 and was made Partner in 2025. Prior to Joining Kindleworth, he had in-house IT roles at Freshfields, Covington & Burling and Forsters.

Clodagh works in our Risk & Compliance team and has a multi-faceted role. This includes working with founders during the design of their new firm, helping them to navigate applicable legal and regulatory requirements to ensure a fully compliant launch. After launch, Clodagh acts as fractional GC to clients she supports alongside managing the appropriate members of Kindleworth’s team as they deliver the clients’ day-to-day Risk & Compliance support. Clodagh joined Kindleworth in 2017 and was made partner in 2025. Prior to joining Kindleworth, Clodagh completed a training contract at a London firm, before working in Linklaters’ conflict team.

Frances leads the HR team that supports Kindleworth’s clients. During a new firm launch, she works directly with founding partners to help them establish their new firm with the right resource from the outset. Post launch, she acts as fractional HR Director, working with founder teams to help shape the culture and people practices that will attract and retain the talent those firms need to succeed. Prior to joining Kindleworth in 2012, Frances worked within the HR functions for leading financial institutions as well as UK law firms CMS and Olswang. Frances holds an MSc in Organisational Behaviour and is a Fellow of the CIPD.

Jonathan leads the team responsible for Finance and Accounting services to Kindleworth’s clients. For new launches he works directly with founding teams to help them establish their financial reporting, processes, controls, and systems. Post launch, Jonathan acts as fractional CFO for clients, delivering financial management for their firms. Jonathan is a qualified accountant and prior to joining Kindleworth in 2014, was based in New York as CFO for a fast-growing US Wealth Management division of a global bank, as well as working as a Big 4 management consultant delivering finance transformation projects across Europe.

Laura is the fractional HR Director for multiple Kindleworth clients. She works strategically with founder teams during the launch of their new firm, advising them on the key elements required to ensure the right team is in place from the outset. Post launch, Laura continues to partner with leadership teams to develop their people strategy and attract top talent, ensuring approaches are aligned with their desired culture and values. Laura also oversees the Kindleworth team’s delivery of day-to-day HR services, ensuring our clients benefit from senior led, best in class HR support. Laura joined Kindleworth in 2018 following a career in HR with prominent UK and international law firms and was promoted to Partner in 2025.

Mike works closely with founder teams to understand their goals, refine and stress-test their proposition and to build out a robust business plan and financial model. He then plays a key role in securing funding and overseeing the launch project. Post launch, Mike supports leadership teams across a broad range of strategic, commercial, and financial matters including strategy, financing, go-to-market planning, pricing, compensation design, and performance improvement. Prior to joining Kindleworth in 2017, Mike was strategy director of a global legal information and software business. He has a background in strategy consulting, commercial due diligence, and early-stage venture capital investing.

Tom co-founded Kindleworth in 2012 and has overall responsibility for the Risk & Compliance services provided to Kindleworth’s clients. Tom is an expert in new firm and ABS applications and during the launch process supports founder teams with their regulatory and legal obligations whether in the UK or internationally. Post launch, Tom fulfils a GC-style role for those clients he works with, which includes advising on risk and professional ethics as well as managing the appropriate members of Kindleworth’s team as they deliver the firm’s day-to-day Risk & Compliance support. Prior to launching Kindleworth, Tom was Head of Risk & Compliance at UK firm Olswang.