Movers & Shakers: South West

2019

December

• Clarke Willmott has announced that Ewen Cairns has joined the firm’s Taunton office as a partner.
• Ashfords has hired Jocelyn Ormond, as a partner in the firm’s corporate team in Bristol.
• Six lawyers have recently been promoted to partner at Veale Wasbrough Vizards. Dan Hall (property litigation), Robin Rajanah (commercial property), Paul Williams (trade marks), Nick Martindale (commercial litigator and part-time tribunal judge) and Fiona Lawrence (contentious probate).
• Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP has announced the appointment of a new partner Matthew Wolton
• Devon firm Wollens has appointed two new partners. Daniel Gresswell and Ashley Bevans
• Devon firm Curtis Whiteford Crocker has announced that two former trainees of the firm, Kearney Coffin and Chloe Hamblin have become salaried partners.
• Clarke Willmott has appointed Becky Reilly and Jessamy Warren as solicitors in the firm’s commercial property team.
• Veale Wasbrough Vizards has announced a number of promotions. In Bristol: Leila Goodarzi (estates & tax planning), Kelly Johnson (commercial litigation), Georgina Little (property litigation), Susie Luckman (corporate), Gemma Pouncy (commercial property) and Scott Preece (corporate) have all been promoted to senior associates. Meanwhile, Louise Gilmer (regulatory & compliance), Sharon Lee (residential conveyancing) and Rory Young (commercial property) have all been promoted to associates.
• Nine trainees have successfully completed their two-year training contracts at Stephens Scown. Brittany Allen and James Snell have joined the real estate team and Megan Spalding has joined the private client team. Jessica George joins newly qualified solicitor Jack Saunders in the real estate team. Tom Cox and Lucy Peters have taken roles in the dispute resolution team, with Cox joining the construction sub team; Rebekah Officer has joined the immigration team and Lucy Ferrat has joined the firm’s IP & IT team.
• The Bristol office of Wards Solicitors has welcomed newly-qualified solicitor Charlotte Gage to its wills, probate and mental capacity team
• Wollens has welcomed two newlyqualified solicitors Bethany Donnelly and Faye Newcombe to the firm
• TLT has appointed licensing lawyer Ewen Macgregor as a partner in its Bristol office.
• Ashfords LLP has appointed Melinda Willis as an associate in its commercial practice.
• TLT has welcomed legal assistants Jo Brown and Naomi Jenkins to the firm, together with partner Ewen Macgregor
• Coodes Solicitors has made two senior appointments. Alan Gates and Teresa Scoular
• Lodders has appointed Tim Labrum as an associate in its agriculture practice

November

• TLT has appointed Andrew Webber as its new UK head of corporate.
• Bevan Brittan has promoted Colin McConaghy to partner in the commercial and infrastructure team in Bristol.
• Nigel Puddicombe of Veale Wasbrough Vizards has been appointed as a chartered arbitrator.
• Dunn & Baker Solicitors has promoted private client solicitor, Dan Pollard, and commercial and residential property solicitor, Neil Starr, to the partnership.
• Womble Bond Dickinson has promoted a number of managing associates and associates. The new managing associates are Suzanne Gado, Alex Fergus, Laura Coombes, Sammy Hill, Toby Larkham, Zoe Lettieri, Briony Holland and Gareth Miles.
• Bevan Brittan has promoted Ruth Atkinson-Wilks, Sarah Newton and Hannah Ward to associates.
• Humphries Kirk has welcomed newly- qualified solicitor Natasha Cross to the firm on the successful completion of her training contract.
• Coles Miller Solicitors has announced that Clare Bland has qualified as a solicitor and joined the wills and probate team.
• Gregg Latchams has appointed Julian Dawson as its first chief operating officer.
• Lester Aldridge has promoted five solicitors to associate solicitors. New associates based are Helen Whittam, Charlotte Wilson, Alison Wood and Benjamin Kerley.
• Rochelle Graham and Karling Lau have qualified as solicitors at Goughs Solicitors.
• Battens Solicitors has announced the appointment of conveyancing executive Caron Abbott to it residential property team.
• BPE Solicitors has promoted Louise Grzasko and Emma Hickson to partners.
• Thrings has announced a number of promotions at the firm. These include planning expert Ros Trotman and agricultural litigator Robert James (Bristol) being promoted to partners.
• BPE Solicitors has announced that Matthew Jones, from commercial property, has been promoted to senior associate.
• Wolferstans has welcomed solicitor Jonathan Wharmby to the firm’s residential property team, based in Plymouth.
• Thrings have promoted the following to senior associates - Naomi Butler, Rebecca Dixon, Charlotte Dooling, Dan Langan, Emily Harvey, Brett Lambe, Emily Prout and Natalie Ward.  The following six have been promoted to associate - Fred Quartermain, Bonnie Ward and Carol Ward, Caitlin Mills, Beth Paja and Rebecca Whiting.
• Owen White has promoted Jessica Waters and Alicia West to senior solicitor.
• Dorset firm Steele Raymond has appointed solicitor Victoria Jarmolkiewicz the firm’s residential property team.
• Woodstock Property Law has welcomed employment lawyer Amy Cousineau Massey.

October

• Ashfords has appointed Ed Hobbs as a partner in the banking and finance team in the Bristol office.

• Bevan Brittan has recruited a number of new partners including Marti Burgess in the firm’s Bristol office.

• Osborne Clarke has appointed Steve Schofield as a partner in its real estate practice.

• Trethowans has appointed Robert Bajaj as a partner in the commercial litigation team.

• Thrings has made a number of senior promotions. Planning expert Ros Trotman, agricultural litigator Robert James and property finance specialist Karen Whitburn all become partners.

• Corporate head, John Wood has been elected TLT’s first new managing partner in 19 years.

• Kitsons solicitors has announced that Stuart Mathews has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate services team.

• Trethowans has announced that Gerrard Tin, Zach Rooney and Kira McKane have successfully completed their training contract with the firm and each of the newly qualified solicitors has accepted a full time role with the firm.

• Hughes Paddison has recruited Kimberley Whalen-Blake as a director and solicitor.

• Thrings has made a number of senior promotions. Matthew Uncle has been promoted to legal director (non-qualified). Naomi Butler, Rebecca Dixon, Charlotte Dooling and Dan Langan, Emily Harvey, Emily Prout and Natalie Ward have been promoted to senior associate. Fred Quartermain, Bonnie Ward (CILEx), Carol Ward, Caitlin Mills (Australian qualified), Beth Paja and Rebecca Whiting have been promoted to associates.

• Greenaway Scott has appointed Shamina Chowdhury as a senior solicitor.

• Veale Wasbrough Vizards has appointed Helen Cuéllar to the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution team. Ellen Netto joins the commercial contracts team and Kate Sherlock joins the charity law team.

• Kitsons has welcomed two newly qualified solicitors Alice Darch and Jodele McConnachie.

• Somerset firm Humphries Kirk has welcomed Dominic Savage as a partner based in Crewkerne.

• Ashfords has made a number of senior promotions including Stephanie Gillam (real estate), Emma Clayton (company commercial), Jonathan Hyde (company commercial), Laura Wonnacott (employment), Lee Ward (construction), Jack Baumgardt (business risk and regulation), Alex Aisthorpe (company commercial), Kirsten Currer (employment) and Sophie Michaelides (property litigation).

• Ashfords has given out a number of newly qualified positions with the firm from including Emily Bowden (employment); Sophie Tucker (real estate); Issy Massey (family); and Izzy Tilley (corporate),  Layla Ahmadi (employment) and Hannah Pettit (commercial).

• James Dudbridge has joined ForrestBrown as an associate director.

• WBW Solicitors has been joined by Stephanie Wintle, a chartered legal executive specialising in civil litigation.

• Tozers has welcomed newly-qualified Emma Ruttley and Callum Skelley.

• Thrings has appointed Penny Munro as a senior associate.

September

• Stephens Scown has made a number of promotions across the firm. Justin Butt, Peter Cooper and Richard Slater have all been promoted to partner.
• Parker Bullen has announced that Gareth Horner has become managing partner of the firm.
• Ashfords has announced the appointment of Samantha Newton as aits Bristol office.
• Ashfords has promoted Liam Trevethan to a solicitor in the firm’s corporate team in its Plymouth office.
• Stephens Scown has made a number of promotions across the firm. Ben Jones and Hayley Bundey from the dispute resolution team have been promoted to senior associate, as have Chris Morse from the employment team and intellectual property specialist Kathryn Heath. Immigration specialist Lisa Mulholland has been promoted to associate and Charlotte Crane from the residential property team has qualified as a solicitor.
• Sam Doherty, a chartered legal executive, has joined Willans.
• Solicitor Brittany Whitfield has joined the conveyancing team at Wards Solicitors in Weston-super-Mare.
• Setfords has welcomed Dawn Morgan as a consultant solicitor in the firm’s Bath office.
• Pardoes has welcomed Charlotte Dullaway as a member of the dispute resolution team based in the Taunton office.
• Clarke Willmott has announced a number of partner promotions. They are Jess Flanagan (private capital) and Ruth Hartnell-Thorne (insolvency) in Bristol; Claire Tofts (commercial property), Paula Squire (employment) and Dan Gill (litigation) in Taunton; and Hayley Steel (construction) in Southampton.
• Kennedys has announced a number of new hires. Helen Ager has been appointed to head up the professional liability team in the firm’s Taunton office.
• Coodes Solicitors has announced the expansion of its commercial property team. Solicitor Jonny Hall, who will be based in the firm’s Truro branch.
• Foot Anstey has recruited three new legal directors. Planning and environment lawyer Christian Silk, Zahir Nayani rejoins the firm’s Islamic finance team. Joanne Boyle she specialises in business transformation projects including proposed restructure and cultural change programmes.
• Deighton Pierce Glynn has announced that Adam Hundt has been appointed as a director at DPG.
• Gregg Latchams has promoted head of residential property Lesley Warren to director.
• Gregg Latchams has promoted Sarah Comley to senior associate in its family and relationships team.

August

• Trowers & Hamlins has promoted Exeter-based Hannah Jackson to partner.

• Mogers Drewett has appointed Tom Chiffers as lead partner for its Wells office.

• Lester Aldridge has appointed Deena Blake as an associate in the real estate group.

• Tozers has made two partner promotions in its Newton Abbot office. Mark Meleady, who trained as a solicitor at the firm before progressing to an associate and Mark Williams is an accredited children panel solicitor.

• Humphries Kirk has appointed solicitor Joanne Mitchell to its residential property team.  Associate solicitor Anna Zeeva joins the commercial property team, advising on mortgages, self-invested pensions schemes, landlord and tenant transactions and acquisition of leases.

• Trethowans has announced a number of promotions. In Bournemouth, Franziska Prosch de Escate has been promoted from associate to senior associate.  Linden Talbot, has been promoted from solicitor to associate in the commercial litigation team.  Also promoted to associate is Jon Laidler, He is now deputy team leader of the Southampton residential property team. Melanie Trim has been promoted to associate in the commercial property team in Southampton.  In Salisbury, Derek Bryer has become an associate in the private client team.

• WSP Solicitors has promoted Amy Leivers to an associate solicitor and head of commercial property.

• Amicus Law has announced that Claire Lovett, who has been a partner for more than two years, has now joined the firm full-time to lead the property team

• Maria Mulroe, a specialist in complex and high value divorce, has joined Royds Withy King as a partner.

• Ashfords has appointed Chris Sutoto- Haywood as an IP associate in the commercial department.

• Trethowans has welcomed Jonathon Sherman to its Bournemouth office.

• Battens Solicitors has appointed Mo Byers to its residential property team.

• Goughs Solicitors has made two senior appointments. Georgina Catlin joins the family department as a solicitor in Calne and the private client team welcomes back Luchia Hirst to the Corsham office.

July

• Simon Holdsworth has been reappointed as Thrings’ managing partner.

• Salisbury firm, Parker Bullen has promoted Tom Bessant to partner. He has over ten years’ commercial property experience.

• Parker Bullen has promoted Hilary Hargreaves to associate in the private client team in Andover.

• Harriet Burt has joined Stone King’s international and cross-border team.

• Nash & Co Solicitors has welcomed Jamie Carr to the firm. He joins as a solicitor in the dispute resolution team.

• Trowers & Hamlins has promoted 12 to its partnership. In the firm’s Exeter office, Ben Neary (real estate), Hannah Jackson (real estate finance – security) and Emma Sear (real estate, private residential), take up their promotions as of 1 July 2019.

• Lyons Davidson has appointed Simon Gale as a senior manager/partner in its corporate division in Bristol.

• Lyons Davidson has appointed a number of new senior associates. They are Juliet Bartlett and Oliver Marsh (claimant); Aidan Monaghan (compliance); Andy Vraitch (defendant); Michael Tait (employment); Mohammad Yusuf (recoveries). The firm has also promoted a number of associates. They are Natalie Blannin, Paris Davey and Leah Hornby (civil: property); Sarah Green (claimant: MIB); Dan Higgins (defendant onsite team); Rebecca Elliott (private client); Mark Hollings and Bushra Zaman (recoveries).

June

• Simmons & Simmons has promoted Jonathan Spencer (dispute resolution) to partner in the firm’s Bristol office.

• DAC Beachcroft has announced the promotion of 19 new partners. In the Bristol office Stan Campbell (real estate), Sara Eaton (clinical risk) and Louise Wiltshire (healthcare regulatory) have been promoted.

• CMS has announced its partner promotion round. In the firm’s Bristol office Robert Jones (insurance – contentious) has been promoted.

• Kennedys has made a number of partner promotions including Vittorio Cinque in the Taunton office.

• Womble Bond Dickinson has announced a number of partner promotions including Sasha Hinton and Laura Brodie in the Bristol office.

• Shoosmiths has announced a number of new partners in its May 2019 promotions round. In the firm’s Solent office, Jonathan Smart (business advisory) has been promoted and newly promoted in the Thames Valley office are Nina Smith (corporate), Fiona Teague (business advisory) and Fleur Turrington (business advisory).

• Claire Rankin is joining Osborne Clarke’s Bristol office as a pensions partner.

• Trethowans has appointed Guy Morgan as a partner in the Salisbury office.

• Reynolds Porter Chamberlain has made up six new partners. In the Bristol office Rachael Healey has been promoted.

• Maitland Walker has announced that solicitor Sheree-Ann Virgin of the firm’s EU & competition and litigation & dispute resolution departments has been promoted to partner.

• Michelmores has announced the promotion of four partners across its South West offices. Chloe Howard-Smith, basedin the Exeter office, has been promoted to partner within the real estate team. Exeter-based, Karen Williams, has been promoted to partner within the business team.  In the Bristol office, Edward Porter has been promoted to partner in the private wealth team. Also in the Bristol office, Adam Corbin has been made partner in the agricultural team.

• TLT has appointed Tom Cowling as a partner in the clean energy team within the commercial services group.

• Wansbroughs Solicitors has announced that Sarah Alexander from the residential property team and Kathryn Smith Cowap and Jennifer Vooght, both from the private client team, have been promoted to partners in the firm.

• Steele Raymond has appointed Caroline Probert, a SIPP and SSAS pension property specialist, as a commercial property partner.

• Richard Baker has become the new managing partner at Stephens Scown.

• Cornish firm Nalders has appointed Manda Toms as a partner.

• Bevan Brittan has made a number of senior promotions. In the Bristol office, Richard Hiscoke (commercial & infrastructure) and Anne Palmer (litigation, advisory & regulatory) have both been promoted to legal directors. Also in the Bristol office, Simon Boyes (property) has been made a senior associate, and Yasmin Allan (litigation, advisory & regulatory), Anna Davies (commercial & infrastructure), Anna Elliott (commercial & infrastructure), Bethan Price (clinical risk) and Matthew Tucker (property) have been made associates.

• TLT has made a number of promotions to legal director including Emily Black (financial services), Sam McCollum (financial services), Lisa Urwin (technology and IP), Eleanor McClelland (commercial), Sarah Hale (housing) and Piers Warne (licensing) in the Bristol office.

• Maitland Walker has announced that Jessie Dhillon has been promoted to associate solicitor and head of residential conveyancing in the Taunton office.

• Woollcombe Yonge Associates has promoted a number of new associates: Vivien Bell (family), Gary Burns (commercial property), Michael Green (higher rights advocate) and Rebecca Wood (head of criminal law department).

• Wards Solicitors has appointed Richard Darbinian as a solicitor in the disputes team. Also Aaliya Moledina has joined as a solicitor in the new homes team. Ciaran Keane has qualified into the commercial and corporate services team.

• Stokes Partners has appointed David Lees as an associate solicitor in the dispute resolution team.

• Stone King has announced a number of promotions. In the Bristol office: Hannah Brittain (dispute resolution) has been promoted to senior associate, while Sarah Clarke (trusts & estates) and Simon Stone (dispute resolution) have been promoted to associate solicitor.

• Eight lawyers in Osborne Clarke’s UK business have been promoted to partner. In Bristol: Alexandra Gower (energy & utilities); CharlesCrowne (commercial); and Sarah Knight (corporate).

• Foot Anstey has announced a number of promotions. Partners Will Whitt (banking) and Mark Rhys-Jones (dispute resolution) have been promoted to mid-equity and senior equity partner respectively. Employment solicitor Claire Holland, data law specialist Alexandra Leonidou and construction lawyer Tris Tucker have been promoted to partners in the firm.

• Royds Withy King has announced a number of promotions at the firm. In the Bath office Katherine Lauder and Maria Meek have been promoted to partner

• Kitsons has announced a number of promotions. Marjorie Creek has been promoted to partner in the private client team in Plymouth. Natalie Carey becomes a partner in the commercial property team in Exeter and Jenna Hamilton-Pursglove becomes the firm’s first CILEX partner, heading up the residential property team in Exeter.

• Laceys Solicitors has welcomed newly-qualified Byron Sims to the firm’s dispute resolution team after completing his training contract.

• The Bath office of Battens Solicitors has welcomed immigration adviser Lee Campbell to the firm.

• Stephens Scown has appointed Tracy Bailey. She joins the firm’s property litigation team at senior associate level.

May

• Trethowans has appointed Chris Pemberton as a partner. The private client specialist will be based in Salisbury.

• Stephens Scown has made new appointments to its board. Hilary Pitts has been  promoted to head of Devon, Catherine Mathews to deputy head of Devon and Verity Slater to deputy head of Cornwall.

• Royds Withy King has welcomed Dan Meadon-Bower to the firm as a partner in its corporate and commercial law team based in Bath.

• Stokes Partners has welcomed Victoria Saunders as a partner and the new head of its residential property team.

• Mogers Drewett has welcomed Richard Pike as a new partner, based in the Bath office.

• Trethowans has offered permanent jobs to all its current second year trainees qualifying in September 2019. Gerrard Tin will be joining the banking team based in the Bournemouth office, Zach Rooney will qualify into the commercial property team in Salisbury, and Kira McKane will be joining the employment team in the firm’s Southampton office.

• Steele Raymond has made three promotions to associate. Shaun Guppy joined the firm’s trainee recruitment programme in 2014 and qualified into the company and commercial team in 2016.  Laura Clarke, a wills and probate solicitor based in the Southbourne office, also started as a trainee with the firm and is a member of the private client team.  Kayleigh Medland, who joined the firm in 2017, is a member of the commercial property team and specialises in landlord and tenant, investment and land development work.

• James Gliddon has joined Foot Anstey’s banking practice as a partner.

• Mowbray Woodwards has welcomed three new team members to the firm. Solicitor Richard Mackichan-Burke has joined the litigation team. The two other new arrivals are Angus McWilliams and Laura Ingram.

• Senior solicitor Joanna Newton has joined the Bristol office of Stowe Family Law LLP. The firm has also appointed Aaron Bailey as a solicitor in the Winchester office.

• Lorna Bolton has been promoted to the position of director at Greenaway Scott.

• Quality Solicitors Dunn & Baker has made four new appointments in its residential property team in Exeter. James Goode joins the firm as a solicitor from a local law firm. Claire Penhallow joins as a paralegal with over 30 years’ experience and will assist Goode in both residential and commercial property matters. Louise Webber and Gemma Haines-Lawson join the firm as property executives.

• Wards Solicitors has appointed Emma Cheetham as a solicitor in the commercial property team based in Clevedon.

• Bill Osborn has joined Battens Solicitors residential team as a conveyancing executive.

• Emily Barwell has qualified as a solicitor in the science and technology team at BPE Solicitors.

April

• Ashfords has appointed Katie Webber as a senior associate in the firm’s disputed wills and trusts team based in the Bristol office.

• Elizabeth Metcalfe has joined the private client team at Metcalfes Solicitors.

• Mowbray Woodwards has promoted two of its solicitors to associate: Lucy Terrell, and Nicholas Wragg.

• The Exeter office of Tozers has appointed Sam Reid as a new associate solicitor in its property team.

• WBW Solicitors has appointed Emma Thomas as a tax and trust assistant in the private client department based in the Paignton office.

• Browne Jacobson has promoted Jennifer Grigg to senior associate in the firm’s Exeter office where she specialises in government and infrastructure.

• Laceys Solicitors has welcomed newly-qualified solicitor Richard Ramshaw to the firm on the successful completion of his training contract. He joins the commercial property department

March

• TLT has re-elected Andrew Glynn as senior partner for a second three-year term.

• Winckworth Sherwood has appointed senior charities lawyer Philip Collins to the firm.

• Nash & Co has promoted Eleanor Barber to partner in the family team.

• Wards Solicitors has made a number of partner promotions. Luke Hewitt, who works in the conveyancing department; and Rebecca Purchase, part of the wills, probate and mental capacity team, have both been promoted to partner in the Nailsea office.

• Willans has promoted partner Chris Wills to head of the corporate & commercial department.

• Wolferstans has announced the appointment of Paul Bramall as a partner in the commercial property team.

• Property development lawyer Becky Smyth has joined Excello Law.

• Irwin Mitchell has made a number of senior appointments. In Bristol Gus Silverman (public law) has been promoted to associate whilst Fiona McGhie (public law) and Erin Sawyer (family) have been promoted to senior associates.

• Elizabeth Johnson has become the first female chartered legal executive to be appointed to the Judiciary at Ashfords.

• Wards Solicitors has promoted Tom Bowering to senior associate in Bristol and Keri McNeil to senior associate in the Weston-super-Mare office. Both work in the conveyancing department.

• Willans has made a number of senior appointments. The wills, probate and trusts division has welcomed associate Hannah Wall, solicitor Laura Stone and private client executive Susie Jones.

• WBW Solicitors has appointed Sarah Summers as a chartered legal executive in the dispute resolution team.

• Woollcombe Yonge has appointed solicitor Rebecca Wood as head of the criminal litigation department. It has also appointed chartered legal executive Natalie Dingle as a member of the residential conveyancing department.

• WSP Solicitors has welcomed Cheryl Maynard as a commercial property solicitor based in the Stroud office.

• Dorset firm Steele Raymond has appointed two new solicitors to its commercial property team: Chris Elliott and Luke Mowbray. It has also appointed Natasha Boyland as operations director.

• Deighton Pierce Glynn has welcomed two newly-qualified solicitors to the firm’s Bristol office on the successful completion of their training contracts: Amalia King and Robyn Taylor.

• Nash & Co has recruited family law solicitor Gemma Stevens.

• Richard Bagwell has joined Stephens Scown as a partner in its resolution team.

• Trethowans has expanded its Winchester team with the appointment of senior associate Rupert Thompson.

• BPE Solicitors has welcomed the return of two of its solicitors: Laura Pitcher and Adam Kean. They both re-join the firm as senior associates.

• Everys Solicitors has announced three associate promotions: Emma Gray, Emma Benyon-Tinker and Kris Seed.

• Laceys Solicitors has announced that Thomas Murray has qualified as a solicitor having undertaken his two year training contract with the firm. He has now joined the firm’s private client team.

• Frettens has welcomed Fiona Knight and Charlotte Bunch to its commercial property team. Knight is a senior solicitor with over 25 years’ commercial and residential property experience.

• Eve Hebbron, who focuses on inheritance and trusts disputes, has joined Stephens Scown as a solicitor.

• Cornish firm Hine Downing has welcomed farming solicitor Sue Reynolds who has joined the commercial department.

February

• Stephens Scown has appointed Bill Wilkins as its new chairman.

• Osborne Clarke has appointed Ed Barratt as a partner based in Bristol.

• Davies and Partners has appointed construction lawyer Sean Randall-Morris to develop the firm’s contentious and dispute resolution service for construction clients.

• Goughs Solicitors has appointed associate solicitor Sarah Thomson as head of the residential property team.

• Hine Downing private client solicitor Autumn Trebilcock has qualified as a notary public.

• The Bristol office of Simpson Millar has welcomed newly-qualified solicitor Lydia Dunford to the firm.

• Coles Miller Solicitors has appointed Nick Balchin as marketing manager.

January

• DAC Beachcroft LLP has announced two new partners: Shahjahan Ali as head of its immigration team; and Ann Isaacs who is promoted to partner to head up its agricultural and highway claims teams.

• Giles Dunning has been appointed as head of the corporate legal team at Stephens Scown.

• Irwin Mitchell has appointed Laura Podger as a member of the family law team based in the Bristol office.

• Ashfords has welcomed solicitor Imogen Powell to the firm’s family team in Taunton.

• Novum Law has promoted Kim Chamberlain to director and a member of the senior management team.

• Humphries Kirk has appointed solicitor Darren Francis to it family department in Poole.

• Steele Raymond has appointed newly qualified solicitor Jesamine Somerville to its tax, trust, wills and probate team.

• Wollen Michelmore has appointed Eleanor Ronson as a family solicitor in its Newton Abbott office.