Esther Ralston

Esther Ralston is the Head of Business Development at Simpson Millar, based in our Manchester office.

Professional Biography

Esther graduated from Newcastle University in 1999 with a BA (Hons) in Combined Studies, specialising in Psychology, Philosophy and Social Studies.

She began her career in recruitment, working for six years in the professional services sector. She then spent several years at a leading global professional services firm, where she held a number of senior business development roles. This included responsibility for national sales programmes, regional business development strategies, and managing proposal teams.

From 2014 onwards, Esther took on increasingly senior roles across national and international law firms. She led bids and proposals across multiple sectors, including insurance, financial services, real estate, and technology. In 2016, she became Head of Sectors, where she designed and implemented go-to-market strategies across eight global industries and led a team of marketing professionals. Esther later moved into a commercial leadership role, focusing on developing and managing partnerships with charities, hospitals and other organisations within the legal services market.

Before joining Simpson Millar in May 2025, Esther was a Partner and Head of Strategic Growth at a leading built environment consultancy, where she led business development, marketing and communications teams and contributed to senior leadership decisions. She was also a school governor and chaired the Pupil Support Committee, reflecting her ongoing commitment to supporting children and families.

At Simpson Millar, Esther is responsible for leading the firm’s business development activity across a range of referral channels. Her focus is on building long-term partnerships with hospitals, charities and commercial organisations. She works closely with legal teams and referral partners to ensure that new business opportunities are developed in a way that aligns with Simpson Millar’s values and delivers a positive experience for prospective clients.

With extensive experience in strategic business development and relationship management, Esther brings a clear and thoughtful approach to growing the firm’s reach, helping more people access expert legal support when they need it most.