Movers & Shakers: Midlands

2017

December

• DWF has made a number of partner promotions including Paul Donnelly (insurance).
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Lisa Botterill as a corporate partner.
• Browne Jacobson has promoted public sector specialist Anja Beriro to the partnership.
• Spearing Waite has appointed Pritpal Singh Swarn as a partner and head of planning & environment.
• Nelsons has appointed two new solicitors, Oliver Maxwell and Lynsey Burke, to its dispute resolution team.
• Two newly qualified solicitors, Isobel Foenander and Sarah Stocker, have joined the clinical negligence team at Tees Solicitors.
• Commercial litigation specialist Sara Brumwell has joined Martin Kaye Solicitors.

November

• Clarke Willmott LLP has expanded its private client team with the appointment of new partner Erica Burt-Moore.
• Freeths has promoted Tom Walker and Balvinder Jaj to partners.
• Specialist professional negligence solicitor Daniel Brumpton has joined Nelsons as a partner.
• Davies and Partners has announced the appointment of Duncan Murray as the new head of its corporate and commercial department.
• Andrew & Co Solicitors has appointed associate solicitor Paul Simpson to the firm.
• Natasha Worrall has qualified as a solicitor into the commercial property department at Hatchers.
• Sydney Mitchell has welcomed David Lydon and Adam Hodson to its personal injury team.
• Higgs & Sons has welcomed five newly qualified lawyers to the firm: Carly Davies (private client); Emma Hadley and Zahra Farooq (both commercial property); Charanjeet Bhogal (employment); and Georgia Stott (dispute resolution and litigation).
• FBC Manby Bowdler has announced three newly qualified solicitors. Matthew Allen qualified into the corporate department. Kate Rowley has qualified into the family team and Samantha Roberts into the wills,
• Higgs & Sons has appointed Kevin Joynes as a partner in the commercial property team.
• Royds Withy King has announced that employment lawyer Kate Benefer has been promoted to partner.
• Roythornes has appointed Paul Thompson as a partner and head of its private client team.
• BPE has promoted Douglas Armstrong to partner in its commercial property team.
• Woodfines has appointed Martin Smith as a partner in the commercial department.
• Birketts has appointed Simon Caltagirone as a senior associate in its corporate criminal defence team.
• Fraser Brown has appointed recently-qualified Hannah Raven as an assistant solicitor.
• Willans has appointed Jennifer Cockett and Rachel Sugden as solicitors in the wills, probate and trusts team and will undertake all aspects of private client work.
• Paul Batchelor has joined Shoosmiths corporate team as a partner.
• Bircham Dyson Bell has appointed Duncan Walker as a partner in its corporate and commercial team.
• Freeths Solicitors has appointed a commercial contracts specialist Rebecca Howlett.
• Barr Ellison has appointed two new partners. Sarah Martin is head of the family law team and Emma Truin is head of the personal injury team.
• Buckles Solicitors LLP has appointed Karl Dembicki as a private client partner.
• Bircham Dyson Bell has appointed Emma-Jayne Sheehan as a senior associate in the real estate team.
• Freeths has promoted Mark Bassett and Polly Wisner to senior associate and Liz Garvey to associate in the planning team.
• Stone King has welcomed solicitor Julie Moktadir as a senior associate specialising in immigration.
• Birketts has welcomed Paul Haworth as a legal director in its shipping and international trade team.
• Thursfields has promoted two new associates. Katie Williams works in the commercial property department and Hannah Nicholls works in the family department.
• Hayley Mortlock has qualified into the family team at Hatch Brenner.
• Clayden Law has appointed data privacy solicitor Anna Clayden.

October

• Mills & Reeve has welcomed life sciences specialist James Fry as a partner.
• Harrison Clark Rickerbys has appointed Nadia Davis as a partner and head of its family law team.
• Spearing Waite has announced that corporate partner Oliver Brookshaw has been appointed as chief operating officer of the firm.
• Weightmans has announced a number of newly qualified solicitors including Sam Harris and Emily Sharples.
• Shoosmiths has welcomed Lynette Lewis as its first pension’s partner. The firm has also promoted a number of new associates including Imogen Francis (commercial), Jodie Craven (recoveries services) and Victoria Chan (corporate).
• Fraser Brown Solicitors has appointed Catherine Gritt as an associate solicitor in the construction department.
• Birketts has appointed Alex Schaafsma as a legal director in its banking and finance team.
• Solicitor Deepa Patel has joined the residential property conveyancing department of Wall James Chappell.
• Stewart Wright has joined Harrison Clark Rickerbys’ licensing and regulatory ream as a consultant.
• Martin Kaye Solicitors has promoted Gemma Himsworth to lead the family team.
• Lauren Pearson has qualified into the real estate team at Lodders.
• Sian Taylor has completed her two-year training contract with Birkett Long.
• Stallard March & Edwards (SME Solicitors) has welcomed solicitor David Denovan-Smith to the firm.

September

• Clarke Willmott has appointed Rayner Grice as a partner in the family team.
• Lodders has promoted Jessica Beddows, a wills, trusts, estates and probate specialist, to partner.
• Nelsons has appointed Stewart Vandermark as chief executive.
• Lyons Davidson has announced that Perminder Devgun has been appointed a senior manager/partner.
• Birketts has appointed John Kahn as an associate in its corporate tax practice.
• Roythornes has promoted Alex Armstrong, Claire Hindmarsh, Rebecca Jackson, Lisa Millington and Lizzie Walters to associates.
• Marrons has appointed Lizzie Beresford as a senior planner.
• Hatch Brenner has appointed solicitor Carly Sullivan to the family team.
• Alex Mansfield has re-joined George Green as a solicitor in the family team having previously completed her training contract with the firm.
• Spratt Endicott Solicitors has announced the qualification of residential property solicitor Sharandeep Chhabra who has recently completed her training with the firm.
• Constantine Law is opening an office in Birmingham which will be headed up by employment and business immigration lawyer Omer Simjee.
• Bircham Dyson Bell has announced the appointment of James Stephen as a partner within the firm’s corporate and commercial team.
• Lodders has appointed experienced wills, tax and trusts lawyer John Rouse as a partner.
• Harrison Clark Rickerbys has welcomed associate Faye Reynolds to its employment team.
• Birketts has appointed Simon Kelly as a legal director in the planning and environment team.
• Actons Solicitors has appointed three new property lawyers to the firm: Lisa Poole and Daniel Harley join as associates whilst chartered legal executive Claire Townroe re-joins the firm.
• Enoch Evans has welcomed newly qualified solicitor Thomas Edwards to its matrimonial and family department.
• Else Solicitors has appointed Felicity Fisher as head of commercial property.
• Brethertons has appointed Daniel Boyle as head of the wills, trusts and probate team.
• George Green has expanded its private client practice with the recruitment of associate Trish Venables.
• Christopher Wiggin has joined Shakespeare Martineau’s defendant insurance team as a partner.
• Helen Salisbury and Dav Jaspal have been promoted to partners at Nelsons.
• Sills & Betteridge has appointed Suzanne McAuley as a partner.
• Tom Evans has joined mfg Solicitors’ private client team as an associate.
• Robert Pettigrew has joined Thursfields Solicitors as a commercial property director.
• Mander Hadley has recruited solicitor John Morgan to its corporate and commercial team as a senior associate.
• Poppleston Allen has appointed associate solicitor Hannah Price in its regulatory team.
• Woodfines Solicitors has appointed Suzanne Folbigg as a commercial property solicitor.

August

• Langleys Solicitors has welcomed Liz Turner to its dispute resolution team as a senior associate specialising in property litigation on behalf of landlords and tenants.
• Hewitsons has appointed Natalie Minott as a partner in the dispute resolution department and head of the real estate litigation team.
• Sills & Betteridge has appointed associate solicitor Andrew Kerrigan.
• mfg Solicitors has announced two associate promotions: wills and probate specialist Janna Vigar has been appointed as an associate within the firm’s private client team; whilst Rupinder Nandra, a matrimonial and cohabitation specialist in mfg’s family department, has also been promoted.
• Tyndallwoods solicitors has welcomed construction solicitor Paul Wilson.
• Thursfields has made three senior promotions: Jayne Holliday has been promoted to senior associate; Lisa Kemp has been appointed as an associate; and Zoe Perry has also been appointed to associate.
• Spratt Endicott Solicitors has promoted Sandeep Sandhu to associate in its family law department.
• Linder Myers has appointed solicitor Victoria Savage to its family and childcare team.
• Rogers & Norton has appointed Aidan Tidnam as practice manager.
• Terry Jones has appointed Nikki Pickering, a chartered legal executive, as a member of the family law department.
• Ringrose Law Group has appointed Chris Randall as head of the employment team.

July

• Squire Patton Boggs has announced the appointment of partner Simon Jones.
• George Green has promoted solicitors Mark Vandaele and Paul Woodman to partners.
• JMP Solicitors has appointed Donna Macfarlaine to its conveyancing team.
• Thursfields Solicitors has appointed Sarah Denney-Richards as a director to head up the new agricultural department.
• Else Solicitors has made two appointments to its commercial law team. Pav Lalria has joined as a commercial property solicitor and Tracey Jackson has joined the team as a debt recovery assistant.
• Eversheds Sutherland has appointed Nicholas Jew as a partner in its employment team.
• Mills & Reeve has promoted Lauren Parker to partner.
• Weightmans has welcomed sports liability specialist Bruce Ralston as a partner.
• Birketts has promoted Bhargav Trivedi to partner.
• Taylor Vinters has promoted two new partners. Andrew Williamson is a property lawyer while Chris Keen specialises in advising technology companies.
• Higgs & Sons has promoted Geoff Kettle to partner in the corporate team.
• Spire Solicitors has welcomed Estelle Corner as a partner in its social housing team.
• Birketts has promoted Rachel McKillop-Wilkin to legal director.

June

• Shoosmiths has made a number of partner promotions including David Perry and Catherine Hood (real estate), Aaron Harlow (restructuring & insolvency) and Joe Stephenson (commercial).
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Paul Horton as a private client partner.
• Bridge McFarland has announced the promotion of personal injury solicitor James Burrell to partner.
• Ellisons has appointed Tim Bacon, Ross Wiltshire and Jon Bloor as partners.
• George Green has appointed James Lowe as a regulatory and licensing partner in its dispute resolution team.
• mfg Solicitors has promoted Sam Pedley to the position of partner.
• Howes Percival has appointed private client specialist Amy Wallhead as an associate solicitor.
• Alsters Kelley has appointed Sally Humphreys as a solicitor in the residential property team.
• Spratt Endicott has appointed Emma Rolfe as a solicitor in its private capital team.
• Band Hatton Button has appointed solicitor Raman Dhillon to its litigation team.
• Cozens-Hardy LLP has appointed Sophie Smith as a solicitor in the family department.
• Enoch Evans has appointed Claire Magennis as a legal executive in the probate team.
• Louise Adams has joined SME Solicitors as a corporate and commercial solicitor in the business services department.
• DLA Piper has made a number of partner promotions including Emma Phillips (employment).
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed commercial property partner Caroline Irvine.
• Taylor Vinters has appointed Gareth Dickson as a partner in the commercial disputes team.
• John Stanley has joined Nelsons as a partner.
• Birketts has appointed Gavin Acheson as a partner in the firm’s commercial property team.
• Eversheds Sutherland has welcomed new pensions partner Georgina Rankin to its human resources practice group.
• Birketts has welcomed legal director Jo Cope back to the firm’s commercial property team.
• Ringrose Law Group has announced the promotion and relocation of Costa Kyriacou to the head of the child social care department.
• Solicitor Stuart Tym has joined the Wilkes Partnership as head of its planning team.
• Specialist family lawyer Gareth Protheroe has joined Nelsons.
• Thomas Horton LLP has announced that Nabit Kaur Dubb has joined the conveyancing department.

May

• Howes Percival has appointed Matthew Potter as an employment partner.
• Gavin Acheson has joined Birketts as a partner in the commercial property team.
• Freeths has appointed Gary Smith as a partner in the corporate law team.
• Hatch Brenner has appointed Caroline Billings to the partnership within the private client team.
• Franklins Solicitors LLP has announced the appointment of two new associate partners. Rhiannon Penney, a solicitor in the bespoke and commercial property team and Kathryn Thornewill, a solicitor in the private client team.
• Darren Goodey has joined Gross & Co Solicitors as head of the commercial department.
• Simon Gummer has returned to Edmondson Hall Solicitors as a partner and head of family law.
• Ashtons Legal has launched a regulatory and road transport team with the appointment of partner Tim Ridyard.
• Rothera Sharp has appointed Christina Yardley as a partner in its probate department.
• Band Hatton Button has announced that Michelle Gavin, head of wills, trusts and probate, Tracy Cross, head of family, and Malcolm Thomas, litigation partner have all been appointed to the firm’s board. Three senior associates, Helen Bowns (family), Marta Fisher (corporate and commercial), and Dina Parmar (commercial property) have been promoted to partner.
• Gateley has appointed solicitor Amrit Hunjin to its family and private client team.
• Hatchers has welcomed solicitor David Phillips to the firm. He will be working within both the commercial property team and the agricultural law team.
• George Green has appointed Karen Grimshaw as an associate solicitor in its residential property department.
• Olivia Chalmers has qualified into the company and commercial team at Hunt & Coombs.
• Fraser Brown has expanded its employment team with the appointment of associate Maz Dannourah.

April

• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Stephen Chalcraft as a partner in its real estate and projects team.
• Howes Percival has appointed Venetia Phipps as a solicitor in its corporate and commercial team.
• Prettys Solicitors has restructured its real estate team which will be led by partner Peter Blake.
• Woodfines Solicitors has announced that Stephen Patch has joined as a partner in the private client department.
• mfg Solicitors has appointed Jayne Hill as an associate in the private client division.
• Hallmark Hulme has appointed experienced solicitor Helen Hanson as a member of its family law department.
• Shaun Rylands has joined the clinical negligence department at Bridge McFarland.
• Ashtons Legal has announced that three staff have qualified as solicitors with the firm. Sophie Howard has joined the dispute resolution team, Krupa Shiani the commercial property team and Francesca Tubb the lifetime planning team.
• Gowling WLG has announced a number of partner promotions. Three lawyers are promoted. Samantha Holland is a member of the commercial litigation team; Mark Stephenson specialises in non-contentious construction law; and Elizabeth Gane is a member of the pensions team.
• Peter Manford has joined Higgs & Sons as a corporate partner.
• Gotelee Solicitors has announced the appointment of its new chief executive, Charles Rowett.
• Andrew Nellist, a family specialist, has joined Royds Withy King as a partner.
• Bray & Bray has expanded its corporate and commercial property teams with the appointment of solicitor Ellie Reynolds to the corporate team, and Sarah Moxon to the commercial property team.
• Butcher Andrews has appointed two new solicitors; James Eden and Sophie Thornley.
• Ansons Solicitors has appointed Adam Kudryl as a senior associate in the corporate and commercial team.
• Marcus-Adam Tuck and Emma Adkins have qualified as solicitors at Fraser Brown.
• Anthony Collins Solicitors has announced that Rebekah Sambrooks has been appointed to the Mental Health Panel of accredited practitioners.
• BPE Solicitors has appointed Paul Browne as business director.
• Freeths has made a number of appointments. Joining the commercial litigation team are Emma Anderson, who joins as a director, and Victoria Jones as an associate. Victoria Teece, who trained in-house at a local authority, joins as a planning and environmental solicitor. Andrew Spiers joins as a corporate solicitor.
• Maqadas Ali has qualified as a solicitor into the commercial property team at Thomas Guise.
• Lodders has appointed landlord and tenant solicitor Lucy Skelton as a member of the real estate team.

March

• Poppleston Allen has announced that it has promoted senior associate Andy Grimsey to partner.
• Thursfields has welcomed Janice Leyland as a senior associate solicitor in its family team.
• Ashtons Legal has appointed Sameena Manzar to its family law team.
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Andrew Mellor as a partner in the real estate team.
• Hewitsons has appointed David Wells as a partner in the real estate team.
• Spire Solicitors has appointed Alistair Ponder as a partner in the corporate and commercial team.
• Vic Younis has joined Wall James Chappell as an associate solicitor in the dispute resolution department.
• Slater and Gordon has appointed Grace Brass as a senior solicitor in the family team.
• Hetts Solicitors has appointed Chris Evans as an associate solicitor in the family law department.
• Zoë Parker has joined the employment law team at Prettys Solicitors.
• Barbara Pond, an experienced wills and trust practitioner, has joined the private client department at Rogers & Norton.
• Fraser Brown has appointed Lloyd Smith as a senior associate in the dispute resolution team.
• Bradley Haynes solicitors has recruited associate solicitor Rachel Bloxwich to its family law team.
• Commercial litigator and partner Claire Holford has joined Harrison Clark Rickerbys.
• Tim Mendes da Costa, a member of the commercial property team, has been promoted to partner at Greene & Greene Solicitors.
• Gateley has appointed Amy Hope-Smith as a commercial litigation solicitor in the commercial dispute resolution team.
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Dr Jonathan Nicholls as director of strategy and policy advice for education.
• Birketts has appointed transport specialist Doug Grant as a self-employed consultant.
• Spratt Endicott has appointed matrimonial barrister Justine Cadbury to its family law department.
• Linder Myers has appointed Charlotte Pinsent as a solicitor in the family law team.
• Greenwoods Solicitors has appointed Jeremy Stanton as director – strategic land, in the property team.
• Ashtons Legal has expanded its private client practice with the appointment of two new solicitors in their lifetime planning division. Suzanne Whyman and Louisa Bradberry.
• Howes Percival has appointed Alishia Marrocco as an assistant solicitor in the family law team.
• Fraser Brown has appointed Julie McCrery as an associate in the family law team.
• Angharad Ellis Owen, a barrister who has specialised in employment law for ten years, has recently joined Greene & Greene.
• Lois Harrison and Eilidh Rose have qualified as solicitors at Blythe Liggins.
• Migrate UK has appointed Karendeep Kaur as an immigration analyst.
• Freeths has appointed Charlotte Rees-John as a partner in the employment team.
• Bermans has made two partner appointments. Anton Stirrett has joined the corporate team and Andrew Koffman has joined the litigation and dispute resolution team.
• Slater Heelis has appointed Simon Maddox as a partner in the commercial property team.
• Birchall Blackburn Law has promoted residential property manager Rachel Buckley to partner.
• Hill Dickinson has welcomed senior associate Rachel Allen to its property team.
• Brabners LLP has appointed Nicola Whittle as a senior associate in the corporate practice.
• Stephensons has appointed Julie Hunter, a commercial litigation specialist, as a solicitor. They have also welcomed solicitor Clare Gammond to the firm’s personal injury team.
• Slater and Gordon has expanded with the appointment of Michael Stockton.
• O’Connors has appointed Christina Millan as a member of its corporate team.
• Bermans has appointed Alissa Marsh as an assistant solicitor in the asset finance and invoice finance team.
• Chris Addison has joined the specialist commercial litigation unit at Napthens.

February

• Eversheds has expanded its company commercial team with the appointment of partner Ian Moore.
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Mark Oldershaw as a commercial property partner.
• Browne Jacobson has appointed Selina Hinchliffe as a partner in the commercial practice.
• Clare Pilsworth has joined Woodfines Solicitors as a partner in the family law team.
• Anthony Collins Solicitors has welcomed associate Sarah Knight to lead its regulatory practice.
• Higgs & Sons has appointed Robert Burke as head of debt recovery.
• Emms Gilmore Liberson has appointed solicitor Sophie Crossley to its commercial property department.
• Sydney Mitchell has announced the expansion of its family law department with the appointment of solicitor Teresa Mannion.
• Spratt Endicott has appointed Andrew Querelle as an associate in the commercial property department.
• The Wilkes Partnership has appointed Jodi Flint as an associate solicitor in the private client department.
• Eversheds has appointed Adam Fisher as a partner in its litigation team.
• Browne Jacobson has appointed Michael Stace as a corporate finance partner.
• Simon Massey has joined Tollers LLP as a partner and head of the commercial real estate team.
• Keith Blizzard, a construction law specialist, has joined Harrison Clark Rickerbys as a partner.
• Langleys Solicitors has appointed Fiona Kingscott, an intellectual property specialist, to its  corporate team.
• Ashtons Legal has appointed solicitor Phoebe Osborne to its asbestos disease team. Also joining is newly qualified
• solicitor Mark Tromans to its corporate and commercial team.
• Hatch Brenner has appointed Ian Johnson has head of finance.

January

• Gateley has appointed Jane Cowley as a partner within the private client and family team.
• Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Caroline Elliott as a family law partner.
• Bray & Bray has promoted Andy Hitchon to partner.
• Chattertons has promoted Melissa Thompson to partner.
• Browne Jacobson has announced a number of newly qualified solicitors including Chereta Edmeade (banking) and Afshan Ahmed (commercial). Meanwhile, the newly qualified solicitors are: Katie Kerry (business & professional risk); Rachael Russell (corporate); Sandra Wong (corporate); and Angela Konteas (commercial).
• Harpreet Sandhu has joined Nelsons as an associate in the commerce & technology team.
• Barker Gotelee has made two appointments to its team. Ann-Marie Matthews joins the private client team as a solicitor. Daniel Fairs joins the property team as an associate solicitor, specialising in commercial property transactions.
• Birketts has made a number of senior appointments. Joe Yexley has joined the commercial property team, Anita Bushell has joined the residential development team and Jan Tyler has joined the private client team. Also, Emma Tubb has joined the corporate and banking team; Peter Hosking and Hannah Meara join the property division team. Meanwhile, Emma Long has joined the corporate criminal defence team as a paralegal.
• mfg Solicitors has made a number of appointments, including Freya Feghali who joins the civil litigation department as an assistant solicitor, and Chris Amys who joins the firm’s employment and HR services team. Feghali focuses on property litigation.
• Jessica Beddows, a wills, trusts, estates and probate specialist, has joined Lodders as a senior associate in the private client team.
• Ellis Fermor & Negus has announced that residential conveyancing specialist, Kim Favill, will be joining the firm.
• George Green has expanded its residential property team with the appointment of associate solicitor John Midge who joins as head of residential conveyancing.
• Chattertons has promoted Alice Morgan and Dan Fellows to associate.
• Hatch Brenner has appointed solicitor Aashish Soni to its property department.