National law firm Ashfords has appointed Jocelyn Ormond as its new Bristol office head as it looks to further expand its presence in the city.
Jocelyn, pictured, is a corporate and private equity partner who leads the firm’s services to the healthcare and life sciences sector – in particular in the expanding digital health space. 
He started his career in London with Slaughter and May, where he trained, and then worked at Allen & Overy and DAC Beachcroft before becoming a partner at Simmons & Simmons from 2014 until 2019.
He joined Ashfords in November 2019 as part of the firm’s strategy to grow its corporate and commercial services offer for clients, particularly in areas complementing its strong technology sector focus.
Jocelyn, who takes over the leadership role from corporate partner and technology sector head Chris Dyson, said: “Bristol has a burgeoning legal community and we see a real opportunity to develop further our commercial and private client offer for clients across the UK and internationally, from here in Bristol.
“In particular, we are building on our existing strengths in areas like tech, energy & resource management, public sector, healthcare and real estate to meet our wider firm growth objectives.” 
Ashfords has recruited a number of senior lawyers to the Bristol office in recent months, including partner Ian Manners from DAC Beachcroft to lead its Business risk & regulation team and energy & construction partner Carl Thompson from Osborne Clarke to expand its work in the clean energy sector.
The firm has also undertaken a major refurbishment of its Bristol office, adding extra space with a new waterside client suite at Tower Wharf. Work areas have been redesigned to support the firm’s shift to flexible hybrid working.
Over the past year it has advised on a wide range of matters, including on one of the largest deals in the region - Pennon’s acquisition of Bristol Water.
It also advised London-based fintech client Form3 on its $160m (£134m) Series C investment led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, leading payment provider NMI on contracts and IP licensing arrangements across the UK and EU, and Crest Nicholson Operations on its acquisition of a 435-home residential development site in Gloucestershire.
Ashfords employs around 500 people across its offices in Bristol, Exeter, London, Taunton, Tiverton and Plymouth.
