Movers & Shakers: South West
2023
April
Irwin Mitchell has announced the promotion of nine colleagues to partner, with effect from 1 May 2022. Newly promoted in Bristol are Louisa Chadwick (Court of Protection) and Fiona McGhie (public law and human rights).
Burges Salmon has announced the appointment of private equity specialist Andrew Mills as a partner in its corporate and M&A team.
Ashfords has retained a number of its trainees who have secured newly qualified positions with the firm. In Exeter: Sophie Borrie (trusts & estates); Rebecca French (corporate); Luke Fitton (commercial litigation); Stephanie Dixon (construction & infrastructure); Hayley Andrew (trusts & estates); Rebecca Carey (trusts & estates); Chris Fotheringham (commercial & IP); and Rebecca Ellis (planning). In Bristol: Hugh Houlston (commercial litigation) and Harriett Strange (property litigation).
Managing associate, Ed Chapman has joined Freeths’ corporate finance team in Bristol.
March
Churchers Solicitors has welcomed Hannah Lisseter as associate solicitor in the firm’s wills and probate team.
Veale Wasbrough Vizards has announced the arrival of partner Harry Hamilton Jennings in the pharma & life sciences team.
Steele Raymond LLP’s residential development team has announced the appointment of highly experienced commercial property and residential development solicitor Emma Pope.
With effect from 1 January 2023, Woollcombe Yonge appointed Joe Cunningham as its new managing partner.
Woollcombe Yonge has announced the appointment of Krista Searle as head of the commercial property / business services department.
Woollcombe Yonge has announced that Alicia Hopkins has now qualified as a solicitor having completed her training with the firm.
Clarke Willmott has appointed Rachel Ramsay as its new internal communications manager. Meanwhile, Sarah Brickell has joined Clarke Willmott as head of communications.
February
Louise Grzasko has joined Osborne Clarke’s corporate team in Bristol as a partner.
Cherry Stuckey has joined the private client team at RWK Goodman LLP as a partner.
Private client partner, Suzanna Harvey, has been appointed head of Burges Salmon’s private wealth sector, as of 1 February 2023.
BPE Solicitors has announced that partner Jemma Jones has taken over as team lead for the family team as of 1 February 2023.
Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV) has welcomed a new consultant in its public sector team, based in Bristol. Lisa Kirkman joins after previously working at two Hampshire authorities with a focus on governance reviews and investigations.
Veale Wasbrough Vizards (VWV) has appointed its first four legal directors. Bristol- based Jacob Scott (commercial), Natalie Wargent (regulatory compliance) and Mandy Yeandle (personal injury) have all moved to the newly created legal director positions.
Freeths has added to its private wealth offering in the Southwest with the appointment of director Tom Gauterin.
Stone King has announced a number of new appointments. Frances Godden has joined the firm’s charity team as a senior associate. The dispute resolution team has welcomed senior associate Dan Carter and solicitor Elle McDonald. Tessa Bonser has joined the firm’s trusts & estates team as a senior associate relocating from Norwich where she was head of team at a regional firm.
Dutton Gregory Solicitors has made a number of internal promotions. In the firm’s residential property department, Gareth Fullbrook and Rebecca East have been promoted to senior associate executive and senior associate solicitor, while colleagues Katie Page and Amy Mullan are now associate executive and associate solicitor respectively. Mariam Luqman is now a solicitor in the firm’s commercial property team. In other areas of the firm, wills, trust and estate planning specialist, Kathryn Loveland-Blockley marks her five years’ service with a promotion to associate executive and Chris Hall has been promoted to associate solicitor, and moves to Dutton Gregory’s specialist landlord and tenant team.
Tax partner John Pindard has joined Ashfords.
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) has announced that commercial property lawyer Jon Ely has joined the firm in Bristol as a partner in the real estate practice.
Clarke Willmott has appointed Sarah Coe as partner in its corporate and commercial team.
Knights plc has announced the acquisition of Bristol firm Meade King adding 29 fee earners to its existing 1,500 professionals across the UK, and facilitating its entry into the Bristol market.
Michael Veal, a partner at Lester Aldridge, is leaving the firm to become a full-time District Judge in Bournemouth, dealing with both civil and family cases.
Wansbroughs has announced the departure of partner Laura Ingram Hill who has left the firm with effect from 31 December 2022 to pursue a new business venture outside of the legal sector.
Bevan Brittan has made two new senior hires in its higher education practice. Elizabeth Dunford is a technology and data protection lawyer. Sarah Court-Brown is a public lawyer with previous experience of working with awarding bodies, research organisations and (historically) HEFCE.
Burges Salmon has welcomed James Barrett as a director in its banking and finance team.
Steele Raymond has announced the arrival of associate and chartered legal executive, Louise Sutton to the firm.
Freeths has added to its planning and environment group with the appointment of director Ben Derrington in Bristol.
The employment team at Cheltenham- based BPE Solicitors has welcomed Emily Arnold to the team as a solicitor.
January
Simmons & Simmons has announced the hire of chartered trade mark attorney, Marisa Broughton, to the firm’s Bristol office.
DWF has announced a number of senior promotions. In Bristol, Lisa Heathcote (head of claims management & adjusting UK) has been promoted to the equivalent grade of partner.
Kirill Bingham has been appointed head of Clarke Willmott’s Taunton office.
Julie Sharpe has joined Michelmores’ transactional real estate team as a partner.
Everys Solicitors LLP and Crewkerne- based Stokes Partners LLP have announced the merger of their two firms which took effect on 25 November 2022. The newly merged firm will operate as Everys Solicitors incorporating Stokes Partners.
Browne Jacobson has announced the appointment of senior associate Anna Clifford into its Exeter office.
