Photo credit: Marks & Spencer

U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer has expanded its legal team by adding two new deputy general counsel to its in-house ranks.

The new positions have been created to accommodate wider structural changes at M&S, according to a person with knowledge of the development.

Sarah Dickson joins as its new deputy general counsel for food and services from supermarket giant Asda where she spent over three years, most recently as senior director for regulatory compliance.

Earlier in her career, she was an in-house lawyer and joint head of commercial law at Asda, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also worked as a corporate lawyer at DLA Piper between 1999 and 2002.

Meanwhile, Patricia Howell has been promoted internally to the role of deputy general counsel for clothing, home and international. Howell has been with M&S for just over 21 years, with her most recent position being head of employment, intellectual property and commercial litigation.

A spokesperson for M&S said the changes were so the team can "best reflect and support our operating model as a family of accountable businesses".

Both new hires will report to Nick Folland, the retailer's general counsel and company secretary. Folland has been in the role since February 2019.

Earlier this week, John Lewis Partnerships re-established its general counsel position after scrapping it over two years ago, promoting its legal director Hannah Hullah to the new role.

Elsewhere, Asda appointed Helen Selby as its new general counsel after she joined from Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.K. last month.