Bell Pottinger has formed a new crisis and litigation division to meet growing market demand for a united, specialist service.

The team is headed by existing Bell Pottinger partners Iain Burns and Stuart Leach, who will act as joint MDs. They report to Kevin Read, who becomes the new division’s chairman.

The crisis and litigation specialism comprises seven people, who collectively have decades of high-level crisis and legal experience.

James Henderson, Bell Pottinger Group CEO, said: “It makes great sense to bring all of this expertise under one umbrella. We can now offer clients a team that has provided crisis communications support across many different sectors and successfully worked with UK and international law firms on a wide variety of legal challenges.”

Iain Burns has held senior PR agency and in-house roles for more than 25 years. He was global head of corporate communications at both British Airways and Etihad Airways, and has also worked for American Airlines, Manchester Airport and British Nuclear Fuels.

Stuart Leach is a former barrister who practised at Pump Court Chambers. He also has 20 years’ experience in marketing, communications and media working with brands including Red Bull, Citroen and Lloyds Bank.