Movers & Shakers: South West

2022

January

Ashfords has appointed partner Ian Manners to head up its business risk & regulation team.

Stone King has made a number of appointments in the Bath office. Kate Tomlinson joins as an associate solicitor in the information law team. Emily Moberly joins as an associate in the trusts. Also joining the trusts and estates team is Stephen Horton, who joins as an associate chartered tax adviser.

Coffin Mew has promoted Natalie Marsh to senior associate.

Capsticks has welcomed a number of new joiners in the firm’s housing and regeneration team. Francesca James joins the Winchester office as a senior solicitor.

Stephens Scown has appointed Mark Shepherd as the firm’s first people development director.

The appointment of 101 new Queen’s Counsel have been announced. In Bristol Charles Row (Queen Square Chambers) has been appointed.

February

Energy and infrastructure partner Hugo Lidbetter has joined Osborne Clarke in Bristol.

Julia Suarez joins Knights plc as a partner in Exeter, focusing on property transactions for high-net-worth clients.

The merger of Royds Withy King and Goodman Derrick will take effect on 1 May 2022. The merged firm will be known as RWK Goodman LLP and will continue to trade from Royds Withy King’s current offices across the South West, Thames Valley and from its Carter Lane offices in London. Goodman Derrick’s offices at 10 St Brides Street London will close. Graham Street will continue as the firm’s managing partner, with Goodman Derrick’s senior partner Edward Hoare and chief operating officer Mark Jones joining the firm’s executive committee. RWK Goodman will comprise approximately 360 specialist lawyers, with around a third being based in London.

Frettens has promoted Karen Edwards, head of the firm’s corporate and commercial team, to partner.

Awdry Bailey & Douglas has appointed Yasmine Machin as head of conveyancing.

Street Chambers has announced that Caleb Sayer has accepted tenancy on successful completion of his pupillage.

March

Ince has appointed property law specialist Janine Harris as a partner in its Bristol office.

Ashfords has appointed Carl Thompson as an energy & construction partner.

David McWilliam, partner and head of personal injury & sports law at Ellis Jones Solicitors, has been appointed to the Football Association general appeals panel for a three-year term. McWilliam was appointed to the FA serious case panel in July 2021.

Parisa Jones, a partner at Lester Aldridge, has become chair of the STEP Bournemouth branch. Jones specialises in wills, powers of attorney, trusts, estate administration and tax planning.

Trethowans has opened a new office in Poole based at Merchants House on Vanguard Road.

Stone King has appointed Graeme Beattie as a solicitor in the international and cross-border team based in the Bath office.

Beale & Company has welcomed Flavia Solimano as a senior associate in the construction team in Bristol.

BLB Solicitors has announced the appointment of Caroline Entwistle and Sarah Loveless as directors.

GL Law has welcomed Edward Jaffa as an associate solicitor in the corporate & commercial team.

Wilsons Solicitors has announced that  Jessica Broxup, Christopher Bull and Ben Smith have all passed their Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) exams.

April

Simmons & Simmons has expanded its investment funds team in Bristol with the appointment of partner Dan Faundez. He has advised fund managers on the launch of private investment funds and managed accounts across various asset classes, including real estate, infrastructure and venture capital.

Joe Nicholls has joined Stephens Scown as a new partner in the firm’s employment team. In addition, he is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and sits on the South West steering committee, as well as holding the role of a non-executive director for a multi- academy trust of primary schools.

Reeds Solicitors LLP has launched a Court of Protection service from its Bristol office. The team will be led by the firm’s head of Court of Protection and partner, Sarah Griffiths-Jones who is currently based in Cardiff. She will split her time between the Cardiff and Bristol offices, with solicitor Camille Ivinson and trainee Natasha Lukies transferring to Bristol full time.

BPE Solicitors has promoted Peter Knibbs and Katie Moylan, to partner. Knibbs has been a member of the litigation team since joining the firm in 2018 and has developed a practice in contentious trusts and probate alongside a property litigation and a commercial contract disputes practice.

Simon Wain will be joining BPE as a partner in the construction and engineering team. He will take over as head of construction & engineering, and will advise clients on the full spectrum of construction law including drafting and reviewing both construction and engineering contracts; negotiating disputes with other parties and advising on consultant appointments.

Ashfords’ family team has welcomed two new solicitors. Sue Ellingham joins the team as a senior associate. Louise Kiely, solicitor, joins the team from another Bristol- based law firm, where she trained and qualified in 2020.

TLT has expanded it trust and estate team with the appointment of Claire Johnson as legal director.

Haseltine Lake Kempner has appointed Graham Lambert as its news chief executive. Lambert has worked at the firm for 11 years, holding senior leadership roles, first as finance director, and then as the firm’s chief operating officer. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA).

BPE has promoted Natalie Hopkins (commercial property) and Hannah Mills (family) to associate solicitors.

Philip Allen is set to join BPE’s private wealth department as a senior associate.

Coodes Solicitors has welcomed new joiners to its family team. Solicitor Victoria Walters is based in the firm’s Penzance office and has 17 years’ experience of family law, including providing expert advice on matrimonial matters and financial settlements. Paralegal Elizabeth Ellis joins Coodes’ Truro office with 12 years’ experience. Also based in Truro, Anna Barrick who has been with Coodes for 15 years, starting out as a secretary, has been promoted to a paralegal. Working in the firm’s St Austell and Liskeard offices, paralegal Iynaiya Afzal advises on all family law matters, particularly cases involving social services, domestic abuse and children law. Megan Eaton is a trainee solicitor in the family team and is aiming to qualify in family law, having been with Coodes since 2019. Based in the firm’s Truro office, she is providing support across a broad range of family law cases.

Auxillias has announced the appointment of Simon Tattersfield as a board adviser. He will be working closely with the business, supporting it with its three- year strategy and overseeing the product and client development activities, particularly in the motor industry. Tattersfield leads his own business, Possibility Squared Ltd, blending coaching, consulting and thought partnership activities.

HHJ Chris Simmonds has been appointed as Designated Family Judge for Dorset with effect from 22 March 2022.

Mrs Justice Frances Judd QC has been appointed as the Family Division Liaison Judge for the Western Circuit with effect from 6 June 2022.

KBG Chambers has announced that Andrew Willetts has successfully completed the STEP advanced certificate in the principles of international taxation, AML and compliance. Willetts is an established chancery practitioner specialising in trust and estate law.

May

Osborne Clarke has made a number of partner promotions in the Bristol office with effect from 1 May 2022. Damocles Merry specialises in M&A and transactional work for defence, security and aerospace clients, with a strong focus on technology in the sector. He also advises real estate clients on corporate opportunities, including joint ventures and acquisitions of alternative asset classes linked to real estate. Fiona Sweeting heads the company secretarial team, providing advice to, and ongoing company secretarial support for, hundreds of UK companies, advising on UK incorporations, and advising overseas companies on setting up business in the UK. Charlotte Walker is a real estate sector team member specialising in renewable energy, power management and decarbonisation projects.

Roger Bull has been re-elected managing partner for a second four-year term at Burges Salmon. Bull became the firm’s managing partner on 1 May 2018.

WBW Solicitors has announced that it will merge with Michael W Pipe Solicitors on 1 May 2022. The new firm will be known as WBW Solicitors incorporating Michael W Pipe Solicitors and will operate from WBW Solicitors current office at 63-65 Hyde Road, Paignton.

Lanyon Bowdler has announced a new addition to the firm, two retirements and management changes. Matthew Bowering joins as a partner in the firm’s commercial and agricultural property team. Meanwhile, Lanyon Bowdler has announced that Andrew Evans and Neil Lorimer, who stepped down as head of personal injury in 2021 but continued with the firm as a partner, will retire as partners at the end of April 2022. Evans, a commercial property specialist, joined the firm in 1989 and has been the firm’s senior partner since 2015. Lorimer joined the firm in 1987 and is a personal injury specialist. He led the firm’s personal injury department for 17 years until stepping down in 2021, when Dawn Humphries became head of the department. Lanyon Bowdler has also announced that John Merry, head of employment, will replace Evans as the firm’s senior partner.

Lucy Charles has left Charles Russell Speechlys, where she was a tax & trust manager in the Cheltenham office, to join accountancy firm PKF Francis Clark as a senior manager in the firm’s tax team based in the Bristol office.

Burges Salmon has announced the appointment of 13 new directors, with effect from 1 May 2022. They are: Ellen Williams (construction & engineering); Lauren Luscombe (construction & engineering); Julie Book (corporate); Anna Davis (corporate – funds and financial regulation); Caroline Brown (dispute resolution); Lucy Redman (dispute resolution); Jamie Cameron (employment); Sarah Sutherland (planning & compulsory purchase); Lucy Owens (projects); Paul Clark (real estate); Will Hall (real estate); Hannah Petherick (tax, trusts, and family); and Tim Williams (tax, trusts, and family).

Daniel Gornall, a chartered financial planner at Mogers Drewett, has recently achieved Resolution’s specialist accreditation. With over 15 years’ experience, Gornall helps clients with retirement plans, investment and estate planning, tax planning, and wealth protection.

Steele Raymond has announced that Victoria Jarmolkiewicz, who since joining the firm in 2019 has worked predominantly in residential conveyancing, has joined the firm’s residential development team.

St John’s Chambers has announced that Sarah Fincham has joined its family & divorce team.

June

Shakespeare Martineau has announced an expansion into Bristol and the Southwest following a merger with GL Law. GL Law is based in Bristol and has acted for owner-managed businesses, SMEs, start- ups and private clients across the region for more than 300 years.

Clarke Willmott has appointed Amanda French as a partner in its Bristol office from Womble Bond Dickinson where she was a senior associate, having also worked at Davitt Jones Bould as an associate director. French specialises in portfolio management and store development programmes for multi-national retail businesses.

Bevan Brittan has appointed Bethan Lloyd as a partner. Lloyd, a procurement, competition law and subsidy control specialist.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards has welcomed partner Sian Champkin to its corporate team. Champkin is an experienced corporate lawyer with a specialism in the education sector.

DAC Beachcroft has announced 17 promotions to partner with effect from 1 May 2022. They include Bristol-based Emily Exon (claims solutions) and Tony Hewitt (corporate banking & insolvency).

Ashfords has elected Tim Heal as its new chair. Heal, who currently leads the firm’s real estate services division and is a member of the firm’s executive board, takes on the role with effect from 24 May 2022. He succeeds Mark Lomas who retires after 35 years with the firm and nine years as chair.

Ashfords has appointed partner Rory Suggett as head of the firm’s corporate team. He takes over the role from Andrew Betteridge who continues as the firm’s wider commercial services division head and executive board member. He has extensive experience in venture capital, private equity and M&A.

Foot Anstey has promoted five new partners. John Catchpole specialises in real estate projects, particularly those in the energy and infrastructure and developer sectors. He has experience in the space and satellite sector. Rebecca Kibby is CEO and head of conveyancing and oversees a team of 70 in the real estate group. Mark Li specialises in high-value, complex commercial property transactions, and the management of operational property portfolios. He has experience in acting for public and private sector infrastructure developers and owners in the transport and energy sectors. Adam McKenna trained and qualified with the firm and is a founding member of the private equity sector team. He has considerable experience in advising portfolio businesses on bolt-on acquisitions and implementing buy and build strategies. Christian Silk is head of strategic infrastructure planning and specialises in all aspects of planning and environmental law and has experience in the developer, energy and infrastructure sectors, and in the space and satellite and ports areas. She has particular experience in the nitrates and phosphates issues affecting developers in many parts of the UK, as well as other environmental matters, including natural capital solutions, net zero and the energy transition.

Burges Salmon has appointed Emma Folkes as the new head of rural property. Folkes has been a partner in the firm’s real estate team since 2017, specialising in rural and agricultural property.

Wilsons has made a number of promotions, effective from 1 May 2022. Debbie Ashenhurst and Mark Cook have been promoted to equity partner (LLP member) while Jessica Broxup and Helen Lello to partner. Ashenhurst is a commercial litigator specialising in reputation management, privacy, data protection and commercial/corporate disputes. She joined the firm in 2016 after spending eight years in the US. Cook advises companies, entrepreneurs and not-for-profit organisations on corporate and commercial contracting matters. His particular areas of expertise are mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder agreements and corporate restructurings and reorganisations. Broxup joined the tax & trust team in 2016 and is dual qualified as a solicitor and chartered tax adviser. She advises a broad range of UK and international clients on wealth protection, tax and estate planning, She covers many aspects of property law and has particular expertise in large estates matters

DAC Beachcroft has announced 18 promotions to legal director with effect from 1 May 2022. Richard Budge (real estate) and Chris Stoate (corporate commercial) have been promoted in Bristol.

Ashfords has welcomed Jess Flanagan to the firm’s Court of Protection team in Bristol. Flanagan has an extensive background in representing individuals who lack capacity in complex health and welfare proceedings before the Court of Protection and is a specialist in issues concerning capacity and best interests and deprivation of liberty, as well as wider community care and mental health law.

Lester Aldridge has made five senior appointments. Senior associate Giuseppe Pingerna has joined the family team. Solicitor Elisabetta Scanferla has joined the firm’s specialist shipping and marine law team. Solicitor Anmol Ahluwalia and chartered legal executives Rebecca Lo and Helen Smith have the joined the real estate team.

Wilsons has made a number of promotions, effective from 1 May 2022. Chris Bull and Jayne Patel have been promoted to senior associates and Emma Litchfield and Leah Ringwood-Hoare have become associates. Patel joined the commercial disputes team in 2015. She has particular technical expertise in claimant focused professional negligence claims against solicitors, valuers, construction professionals and accountants. Litchfield joined the probate & estate administration team in 2018. She trained with a firm in North Dorset and qualified as a solicitor in 2017. Ringwood-Hoare joined the firm as a trainee and qualified into the Court of Protection team in 2018. She advises on a broad range of mental capacity work including applications to the COP, deputyships, lasting powers of attorney. She also advises on the creation of personal injury trusts, wills and statutory will applications.

July

Clarke Willmott has announced that Phil Brown has been appointed as the new head of office in Taunton. Brown is a partner in the commercial property team and acts for landowners and developers in relation to immediate and strategic development projects. 

Ince has appointed Daniel Crockford as head of office in Bristol. Crockford joined the firm in July 2021 to start the Bristol marine insurance team.

Trethowans has appointed Caroline Lindon-Morris as a partner to head up its agriculture and rural property team in Winchester. She has over 40 years’ experience.

Trowers & Hamlins has made a number of partner promotions, including Stephen Moore (real estate) and Nicola Janus-Harris (real estate) in Exeter.

Stowe Family Law LLP has promoted Amy Langford and Joanna Newton to partners in the Bristol office.

Coles Miller Solicitors has made Michelle Vick a partner. Vick, who joined the firm in 2012, specialises in residential conveyancing.

Seven new business owners have been appointed at Coodes Solicitors. Partners Sarah Cornish, Kirsty Davey, Sarah Evans, Melanie Grose, Abi Lutey, Jo Morgan, and Rachel Pearce join the six other business owners across a network of offices in Cornwall and Devon.

Dutton Gregory has appointed Emily Taylor, a private client specialist with over 17 years’ experience, as a partner based in the Chandlers Ford and Winchester offices.

Frettens has promoted Niki Adkins, head of the specialist residential leasehold team, to partner. Adkins joined the firm in 2017 to establish the residential leasehold property team.

Acuity Law has launched a Bristol office at the Generator Building.

Frettens has promoted Patsy Whitford (commercial property), Jennifer Smith (conveyancing) and Will Bartley (property litigation) to associates.

Stowe Family Law LLP has promoted  Zoe Carter to senior associate in the Cheltenham office.

Coles Miller Solicitors has promoted Lindsey Arnold to senior associate. She is a member of the family law department and joined the firm in 2013. Meanwhile, the firm has promoted six new associates: Katie Owen (conveyancing), Kerry Hay (wills and probate), Charlotte Lilley (commercial property), Clare Bland (wills and probate), Anna Burton (family) and Laura Hall (conveyancing).

Dunn & Baker has made four senior appointments. Gemma Clarke has joined the family department in the Cullompton office as a family law executive. She has over ten years’ experience specialising in family law. Sandra Mortimer joins the residential property department as a property executive and is based in the Cullompton office. Emily Rickett joins the commercial department in Exeter as a paralegal. Meanwhile, Ellie Huntley joins the private client department in the Exeter office.

Dutton Gregory has appointed Alex O’Sullivan, a private client specialist, as an associate solicitor in the Chandlers Ford office.

August

Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has welcomed new partner Emma Harling- Phillips, who joins the firm’s planning and infrastructure team and will be based in Bristol.

Ashfords has made a number of partner promotions, including Su Apps (employment), Jonathan Croley (commercial/energy & resource management) and Laura Reeve (construction & infrastructure) in the Exeter office. Meanwhile, Kirsty Cooke (employment and immigration) in Taunton and Katie Webber (trusts & estates) in Bristol have been promoted.

Ashfords has appointed Jocelyn Ormond as its new Bristol head.

Tozers has appointed two new partners. Sam Reid joins the Exeter office. Sue Halfyard also joins as a partner in the Tiegnmouth office where she leads the wealth management team.

Lysander Law Limited has announced  the appointment of Christopher Cox who joins as head of commercial dispute resolution.

Lysander Law Limited has welcomed family law solicitor Julia Sacco to the firm.

Tozers has promoted Julie Hill and Tracy Moreton to associate in the residential property team.

Battens Solicitors has announced that three staff members have qualified as Chartered Legal Executives. Jen Haynor and Emma Taylor work in the residential property department while Lizzie Seall works in the family department.

St John’s Chambers has announced that Glen Pritchard, formerly a solicitor working for Somerset County Council, has joined its family & divorce team.

KBG Chambers has announced that it is relocating its Plymouth office in October 2022 to Mills Bakery, Royal William Yard.

September

Stone King has welcomed partner Sean Randall-Morris to the firm’s construction law practice. Joining with him is paralegal Grace Southern.

Caroline Fell, a partner in Stone King’s family & mediation team, is now a qualified child inclusive mediator.

Steele Raymond has appointed commercial property solicitor Martin Logan as a partner in its property group in Bournemouth.

Steele Raymond has welcomed Louise Maidment to its team in Bournemouth.

Stowe Family Law LLP has opened an office in Swindon. Stowe’s Swindon office is headed up by partner Joanna Newton who is supported by the Southwest & Wales team of family lawyers.

BLB Solicitors has expanded its private client department. Solicitor Rebecca Broom joins the Bath office, she qualified in 2001. Solicitor Justine Alford joins the Bradford on Avon office, she qualified in 1998. Private client executive Joanna Turchet joins the Swindon office.

Patrick Herklots, a commercial and civil litigation solicitor at Coles Miller Solicitors, has been appointed careers sub- committee chair at Bournemouth & District Law Society.

GL Law has welcomed a number of new hires ahead of its merger with Shakespeare Martineau. Solicitor Jing Wang and legal advisor Raluca Larion join the corporate & commercial team, and chartered legal executive Fraser Conway joins the commercial property team.

Kit O’Brien has joined GL Law’s family law team as an associate director.

GL Law has announced the promotion of Ben Coulson to associate director.

Albion Chambers has welcomed Joseph Broadway as a member of the crime team with effect from August 2022.

Kate Brunner QC, of Albion Chambers, has been appointed by the Government to chair the Isle of Man Independent Covid Review which will report at the end of 2023.

KBG Chambers has announced that Andrew Willetts has been appointed to the STEP Oversight of Conference Committee.

Pump Court Chambers has announced that Siân Beaven has returned to chambers following a 12-month secondment with the CPS Extradition Unit.

Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini has been appointed as a Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit.

Carla Flexman has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and has been deployed to the Western Circuit, based at Torquay County Court.

Michael Bowes QC has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and deployed to the Western Circuit, based at Portsmouth Combined Court Centre with effect from 19 September 2022. Bowes will be known as His Honour Judge Bowes QC.

Moira Macmillan has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and deployed to the Western Circuit, based at Bristol Crown Court with effect from 19 September 2022. Macmillan will be known as Her Honour Judge Macmillan.

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain has hired Terence Dickens as a partner in its insurance group, specialising in financial services disputes.

Porter Dodson has welcomed private client specialist Paul Watkins, who joins as a partner in the Bridport office.

Porter Dodson has promoted Helen Williams to partner.

Parker Bullen has welcomed solicitor Adam Pinkney to its family, divorce and relationships team.

16 newly qualified lawyers at DAC Beachcroft are staying on in permanent roles following the completion of the firm’s trainee development scheme. The NQ’s in the Bristol office are: Scott Titmus (public health); Jessica Fryer-Sims (professional & commercial risk South); Alexandra Baines (professional & commercial risk South); Lucy Beach (professional & commercial risk South); Megan Hill (professional & commercial risk South); Oliver Harries (professional & commercial risk South); and Victoria Brookland (real estate).

Burges Salmon has appointed Martin Cuell as a consultant in its technology practice. Cuell rejoins Burges Salmon having worked for the firm earlier in his career.

Woollcombe Yonge has announced that Michelle Crump is now an associate of STEP after successfully passing the Advanced Certification in Administration of Trusts and the Advanced Certificate in Taxation of Trusts and Estates examinations.

Tozers has welcomed senior associate Carly Cox to its corporate and commercial team. The firm has welcomed newly-qualified Cory Stephenson and Oliver Kent as solicitors on the successful completion of their training contracts.

Foot Anstey has welcomed Kee Evans as a legal director to its planning and environment team, part of its real estate group, and the firm’s energy and infrastructure and developer sectors.

Elizabeth Willsteed has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and has been deployed to the Western Circuit, based at Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre.

Adam Feest QC has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and has been deployed to the Western Circuit, based at Winchester Combined Court Centre.

Her Honour Justice Anna Richardson has been appointed as the Resident Judge at Exeter Combined Court.

Pakeeza Rahman has been appointed as a District Judge and has been deployed to the Western Circuit, based at Truro Combined Court.

KBG Chambers has announced that James Jarvis is now a full-time member of chambers after relocating to Cornwall, having been an associate member since 2021.

October

Womble Bond Dickinson has promoted Lorrae Hendry to partner in the Bristol office.

Burges Salmon has announced the appointment of Malcolm Donald as a partner in its energy transition team in Scotland.

Ben Travers, an intellectual property and tech specialist, has joined Knights plc as a partner based in the Exeter office.

TLT has appointed David Meecham as a partner in the real estate group, focusing on the public sector.

Wansbroughs has announced its conversion to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) on 1 November 2022. Wansbroughs will remain the trading name of the newly incorporated business.

Steele Raymond has announced the appointment of specialist wills, tax, trusts and probate solicitor Joe Spring, who joins the firm as a partner and head of private client.

Mitchell Law has merged with Harrison Clark Rickerbys in Cheltenham. Catherine Mitchell, who has worked both inside business and run her own practice, joins the employment team in Cheltenham.

Womble Bond Dickinson has promoted Thomas Holdaway (dispute resolution) to managing associate in the Bristol office. Also in Bristol, Samantha Bryant (dispute resolution), Nicola Cotton (real estate) and Lizzie Tones (real estate) have been promoted to associates.

Lester Aldridge has welcomed two new lawyers to its residential property & conveyancing team in Bournemouth. Associate Natasha Mallett deals with all aspects of residential conveyancing for individuals and companies including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, remortgages, new build properties, help to buy and equity release mortgages. Solicitor Rebecca Shaw primarily acts for private individuals on residential property sales and purchases and remortgages, both locally and across the UK.