The CEO of Ampa Group, the parent company of national law firm Shakespeare Martineau, has been removed from her position following an independent investigation.
Sarah Walker-Smith – who has been CEO of Ampa since 2021, before which she was chief executive of Shakespeare – was suspended this summer after allegations about her conduct.
Details of the allegations have never been disclosed but news of her suspension broke in late June, with the independent investigation into the alleged misconduct running for more than three months.
Keith Spedding, Shakespeare corporate partner and chair of Ampa Group’s membership and nominations committee, said in a statement: ‘The committee has concluded its consideration of the findings of an independent investigation that was carried out following allegations concerning Ampa Group CEO Sarah Walker-Smith.’
‘Following that process, Sarah has been removed from her position as Ampa Group CEO and expelled from the membership. The expulsion decision is subject to a right of appeal.’
‘The investigation was conducted independently and in accordance with the group’s governance procedures.’
Walker-Smith is an unusual figure among law firm leaders given her background as a chartered accountant. She also spent eight years in marketing and communications at Boots before joining Browne Jacobson, where she spent 15 years, initially as director of business development and marketing, before becoming chief operating officer.
Ampa Group was set up in 2021 as a ‘house of brands’, with Shakespeare Martineau its largest legal brand. The firm, which has 11 offices across the UK, including Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, London and Nottingham, reported turnover of £143.1m for 2025-26, up 9.7% on last year.
Ampa also includes Sussex firm Mayo Wynne Baxter and consumer claimant firm Lime Solicitors.
Spedding’s statement concluded: ‘We would like to reassure clients and stakeholders that the Ampa Group and its individual brands continue to be led by our managing directors and are operating as normal with no impact on the services we provide to clients.’
