Flex Legal welcomes Rachel Murphy as new CEO

Flex Legal, the award-winning alternative legal services provider, is welcoming Rachel Murphy as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Murphy joins from Consilio, where she held the role of managing director at Lawyers on Demand for five years.

Kate Gaskell, former CEO, will return to her previous position as chief operating officer (COO), to work closely alongside Murphy, as the company gears up for its next growth phase.

Founded a decade ago and with a team of 40 based in London and Manchester, Flex Legal helps businesses and law firms find on-demand legal professionals, rather than hiring permanent staff for every need. The company also runs a flagship social mobility scheme for aspiring lawyers and company secretaries from under-represented backgrounds which is currently open for applications. Over 120 people have completed the Flex Trainee scheme, successfully training at companies including Vodafone, Tesco, Diageo, Amazon and the Crown Estate.

Executive Leadership Transition and Future Growth Strategy

Murphy has worked at Lawyers on Demand since 2015, and, for the last five years, has been leading the team as managing director. She was responsible for growth across the UK and Europe. She joined the company from international law firm Olswang, where she was client relationship manager. Murphy previously held client development roles in professional services including at Kingston Smith and Winmark.

Murphy commented:

“I feel incredibly excited to join Kate and the rest of the team at Flex Legal – a wonderful business I have long admired for its human-centred approach and the positive impact it has had on so many early and established legal careers. As the legal industry continues to evolve and change at pace, this is an exciting time to be right at the centre of developing and curating the future talent needed by legal teams.”

Gaskell will return to the role of COO which she previously held, as the company separates CEO and COO responsibilities in preparation for further growth. She will focus on executing the business’s long-term strategy, working closely alongside Murphy.

Gaskell added:

“It's been a privilege to lead Flex through a period of exceptional growth and transformation. Together we've built a platform for significant further scale as well as strong momentum in all of our business lines. As we continue to grow, separating CEO and COO responsibilities is the right step for the business. I am delighted to be continuing as COO and look forward to working with Rachel and the rest of the team as we build on everything we've achieved and continue to pursue our important mission.”

Flex Legal recently won New Law Business of the Year at The Lawyer Awards, and the company was officially ranked by Chambers and Partners in the New Law Guide 2026 both Europe-wide and Global-wide, marking global recognition.