Pictured above: George Campion with Lodders partners Richard Ollis, Nick East and David Lodder

The recovery is throwing up new marketing opportunities which need to be grasped, George Campion, chairman of Stratford-based solicitors Lodders, told the firm's annual meeting.

Mr Campion, formerly a partner at global accountants Deloitte in Birmingham, said the legal world had been hit hard in the recession.

Speaking to the firm's staff at Stratford Civic Hall, he said Lodders was a particularly attractive niche operation.

"There is not the cut and thrust of Birmingham's Colmore Row, but then that is not what Lodders is about," he noted.

"It operates strongly in some niche market areas and it has a quality ethos."

The private client department was the place to go to "for all those who have made their money in the Midlands".

The agriculture department under senior partner David Lodder had a huge reputation.

And the firm has an excellent real estate and private property unit, dealing with many specialist developers.

Its business group was also strong in employment, commercial, corporate and dispute resolution.

Mr Campion said: "The lawyers and bankers have had a hard time over the last three years. Indeed the lawyers have probably been affected more so than the accountants because the latter have some work which is always on-going such as the audit side.

"And Lodders has in this respect been no different from any of the other law firms.

"However, we are coming out of it all and things are starting to pick up.

"I am optimistic that there is a definite improvement and Lodders now needs to focus on its markets and get the business in."

George Campion, previously a senior tax partner at Deloitte who retired at the end of November after 20 years as a partner, became Lodders chairman on January 1.

The firm, already well established in the south Midlands, sees his appointment as a springboard to building its profile in the wider region.