LAW firm Coles Miller is commemorating the end of an era and the launch of a new one with the retirement of its senior partner and director of finance.

Senior Partner David Parfitt has retired after 36 years at the business – six of them at the helm of the firm, which employs 120 staff in Bournemouth, Poole, Broadstone, Christchurch and Wimborne.

He has been succeeded as senior partner by Andrew Howard, who joined in 2007 and is head of Coles Miller’s residential leasehold property department. He represented parties in three notable cases which are cited in the leading text book on the subject.

Director of finance and Head of IT Martin Ford-Horne has retired after 12 years at Coles Miller. He was previously FD at lavalamp manufacturer Mathmos and spent four years at Ernst & Young.

He has been succeeded by John Rawlings, financial controller and company secretary at Poole-based Thompson Valves Ltd and head of finance and commercial at Wessex Homes Group at Okeford Fitzpaine near Blandford.

Both David and Martin will remain with Coles Miller as consultants: David for three years, Martin for a few months.

David Parfitt said: “Coles Miller has grown significantly over the years. I am very proud that it continues to be a successful multi-disciplinary practice in a very competitive market.

“I am particularly proud of the way we have encouraged young trainee solicitors to come through and also how we have encouraged the marketing of the firm over the years.”