The Bristol office of international law firm DAC Beachcroft has a new location head. Charlie Bending, pictured, who joined the firm as a trainee in 1994 and became a partner in 2010, was elected unopposed.
He will begin his term on July 1 when he will replace Nick Knapman, who steps down after two terms and four years’ leadership of the office. 
Charlie currently leads the firm’s surveyor professional risk team in Bristol. He specialises in advising property consultancies and their insurers in the defence of professional negligence claims.
With 59 partners and more than 750 colleagues, DAC Beachcroft’s Bristol office is the largest in its global network of 11 UK and seven international bases.
All of the firm’s main areas of practice are represented in Bristol, including its main sector focuses – insurance, health and real estate – as well as its business advisory group.
Charlie said: “I’ve spent my entire legal career at DAC Beachcroft across a number of our UK offices and I’m very proud now to lead the Bristol office.
“The office is thriving. It is one of the largest legal offices in Bristol, with a high-quality, full-service offering. It is also a wonderfully diverse, inclusive and supportive place to work.
“I look forward to building on the office’s excellent reputation for attracting and retaining talent and track record of commitment to the environment and support of our local community.”
DAC Beachcroft is a firm supporter of a number of charities, organisations and campaigns in Bristol. It has raised £100,000 for Bristol city centre hospitals charity Above and Beyond, is a leading supporter of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal for toys for disadvantaged children, and partners with Bristol Met, mentoring students and partnering with them on its Step Up To Serve campaign.
The firm won the Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Award at the 2019 Bristol Law Society Awards, having won CSR Firm of the Year the previous year.
DAC Beachcroft senior partner Virginia Clegg added: “Congratulations to Charlie. Our Bristol office is a great place to work, and Charlie – having worked in the office since the early 2000s – is perfectly placed to build on the excellent work of Nick Knapman and articulate our considerable strengths in the city.”
