Arbor Law has appointed Sahar Farooqi, who has a large following on LinkedIn as a legal affairs commentator, as its first managing partner.
Farooqi has taken up the role at the boutique London firm, which operates a consultancy model, after an eight-month stint as its chief transformation officer, working as a consultant on a fractional basis.
As managing partner, Farooqi will lead the execution of the strategy he helped formulate, which will include driving its commercial performance, expanding its client base, growing the team and strengthening its operational platform.
Until now, the boutique law firm’s three founders – former Baker McKenzie colleagues Kate Bennett, Ed Rea and Daniel Adams – have shared management responsibilities.
Founded in 2019, the firm has nearly 30 consultants on its books, 13 of whom are registered by the firm with the Solicitors Regulation Authority, with the remainder operating as freelancers.
It offers advice on business matters, ranging from disputes to employment law, IT law, media and technology issues, and commercial contracts, including support for FTSE 100 companies on procurement, outsourcing, distribution, licensing and joint ventures.
Its rivals include Obelisk Support, Pierpoint and Flex Legal.
Bennett said: “Sahar’s appointment reflects both the progress we have made and the scale of our ambition from here. Arbor was built on the belief that there is a better way to practise law by maintaining the experience and excellence of top-tier firms while offering a more direct, agile and human model for both clients and lawyers.”
Farooqi added: “Having worked closely with the business over the past eight months, I’ve seen the strength of its foundations and the clarity of its ambition. I’m grateful for the opportunity to take on this role and excited to lead the next phase of growth.”
Farooqi previously served as a transformation officer at the global offshore law firm Harneys before leaving to found his own consultancy, Legalencia, in 2025.
Prior to his consultancy work, the former barrister set up the advocacy unit at DAC Beachcroft, where he was a partner, having established a similar unit at DWF before that as a director.
His CV demonstrates strong dispute-resolution acumen in commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation, alongside his consultancy experience. He served on the Bar Council from 2022 to 2024.
All three of Arbor Law’s founders worked at Baker McKenzie before stints as senior in-house lawyers in global businesses and fast-growth start-ups.
Bennett worked at Georgia Healthcare Group and Lion Finance Group, both FTSE-listed, while Adams spent time in-house at EMI and later founded his own tech start-up. Rea worked at Halebury and Sony Ericsson.
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