The Business Leaders Group has brought together the public and private sectors in Portsmouth in a dynamic partnership aimed at achieving the objectives in the plan for regeneration and in line with the Solent LEP objectives. It has galvanised interest amongst the private sector with over 150 business people actively involved in our five work streams.
Meet the Chair: Walter Cha, Managing Partner of Blake Lapthorn
Blake Lapthorn is a law firm with offices in London, Southampton, Oxford and Portsmouth. It employs approximately 650 people and provides legal and business advice to multinationals, major corporates as well as SMEs and private clients in the region.
Walter joined Blake Lapthorn Solicitors as a graduate recruit in 1981. He was the head of the firm's Corporate and Commercial Department before taking up his current role as Managing Partner in 2000.
During his time as Managing Partner, the firm has grown substantially having undertaken four significant mergers in 2001, 2003 and two in 2006 with turnover rising from circa £16m in 2000 to circa £50m.
In addition to his position at Blake Lapthorn Walter holds a number of directorships, in particular Meridies Insurance Company Limited on the Isle of Man and Law South, an association of nine law firms with a combined income in excess of £170m. He is also a governor of Portsmouth Grammar School and the chair of our Business Leaders Group. Walter is married with two children and now resides in Langstone having lived in Portsmouth for more than 20 years.
