Uxbridge: IBB managing partner named in The Lawyer Hot 100

Joanna DeBiase, managing partner of IBB Solicitors, has been named in The Lawyer Hot 100 2019.  The prestigious list recognises the best lawyers across the UK and include those practicing in-house, in private practice and at the Bar. 

The listing notes:

“It is fitting that Joanna DeBiase is managing partner of IBB, because it is a certainty no one knows her firm better. A litigator who qualified in 1992 and joined IBB in 1999, she has held a plethora of roles at the firm, including head of technology and information services; compliance partner; deputy MLRO; COLP; and, most recently, operations director, before taking on the top job in May 2016. DeBiase is responsible for IBB’s strategic direction and has big plans. Most notably, IBB is targeting significant revenue growth, enough to take the currently sub-£20m west of London-headquartered firm comfortably into the top half of the UK 200, with a projected turnover of at least £30m.

"Merger activity looks like a certainty, as are lateral hires and organic growth, along with a conversion to LLP status, all part of a modernising drive spearheaded by DeBiase. The new strategy will also see significant investment in technology and process efficiency.

"DeBiase’s own journey has already been untypically wide-ranging, but the signs are she is only just getting started.”

Each year The Lawyer receives thousands of submissions and recommendations from across the UK. Throughout the year, The Lawyer’s in-house team also tracks the achievements of lawyers which stand out from the rest of the profession because they have been particularly pioneering, creative and /or have transformed their firm. From the shortlist, much time and consideration is taken to reach the final decision on the 100 lawyers who are the ambassadors for the profession.

As stated by The Lawyer: “The Hot 100 isn’t a ‘lifetime achievement’ award but a recognition of those who are doing great work now – the lawyers who have made a significant contribution to the profession in the last year and the rising stars who are the ones to watch in the next 12 months."

Joanna DeBiase commented: “I’m very pleased and also a little overwhelmed.  It’s a huge honour to make it into the Hot 100 list.  What a great way to start 2019.”