Margaret Robertson

Spear’s Review

Law firm Withers describes itself as ‘the law firm for successful people’, and it’s a tagline that fits.

How much of that is down to CEO Margaret Robertson? Before becoming joint managing director in 2002 (and then taking on the job solo from 2007), she headed the firm’s top-tier litigation practice. Since then, the commercially savvy lawyer has been instrumental in the firm’s all-important international expansion. 

As for those ‘successful people,’ the firm points to the fact that it has now advised 70 per cent of the top 100 in the Sunday Times Rich List, 25 per cent of the top 100 in the Forbes Rich List and 35 per cent of the Top 20 Hong Kong billionaires in the Forbes World’s Billionaires list.

An Oxford graduate in jurisprudence, Robertson first joined Withers as a trainee in 1984, becoming a partner in 1990.

Power List Profile

Margaret Robertson is chief executive of international law firm Withers, which represents successful people on all of their personal, business and philanthropic needs. Since 2002 she has been re-elected to the management role five times and is one of the most respected leaders of a major law firm. 

Under Margaret's leadership, Withers has expanded from one London office to 17 offices and 1500 people across the US, Europe and Asia, with revenue increasing by over 1100% in that period from £20 million to £244 million. In the UK alone the firm has represented 70% of the top 100 of the Sunday Times Rich List. Margaret's current focus is ensuring that Withers has the capabilities to meet the demands of a digitised world.