Movers & Shakers: Wales

2022

January

Geldards has made a number of partner promotions, including three in Cardiff: Elizabeth Bray (best practice & risk), Joga Singh (employment/immigration) and Helen Snow (employment and data protection & information law).

Eversheds Sutherland has appointed Rob Phillips as a partner in the real estate litigation team based in the Cardiff office.

Geldards has made a number of promotions to senior associate, including Rachel Kirby (injury dispute resolution) and Ewelina Wagiel (corporate) in the Cardiff office. Meanwhile, Henry Bright (commercial property) and Madeleine Jordan (CDR) have been promoted to associate in Cardiff.

The appointments of 101 new Queen’s Counsel have been announced. In Cardiff Catherine Heyworth (30 Park Place) has been appointed.

February

Peter Donnison, of 30 Park Place, has been appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts).

30 Park Place has announced that Kirsten Heaven has been appointed as an assistant coroner for Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.

March

Sara Miles has been promoted to director at Howells solicitors.

Iscoed Chambers has welcomed Megan Jones as a pupil.

Pendragon Chambers has been joined by Joshua Dean as a new tenant following the successful completion of his pupillage.

Apex Chambers has welcomed Alex Williams as a member of the clerking team.

April

Eversheds Sutherland (International) has made 31 partner promotions with effect from 1 May 2022. They include Cardiff- based Tom Black (FSDI), Sally Isaacs (employment), Gemma Pendlebury (real estate) and Alex Shapland (core real estate).

Eversheds Sutherland (International) has promoted 17 lawyers to legal director, with effect from 1 May 2022. They include Cardiff-based Huw Evans (core real estate), Angharad Hurle (CDR), Kate Sutton (core real estate), Richard Woodhead (employment) and Jonathan Woodward (core real estate).

Abel & Imray has promoted Edward Nation and Matthew Laffan to senior associates in the Cardiff office. Joining the firm in 2013, Nation’s work involves drafting patent applications and prosecuting those patent applications in the UK, Europe and overseas. He also has experience of opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office, as well as advising on freedom to operate. Laffan’s work covers a variety of technical disciplines, with particular experience of drafting and prosecuting patents relating to technology in the aerospace, defence, offshore engineering, optics and security sectors.

June

Blake Morgan has promoted Paul Duggan to partner in the Cardiff office where he leads the banking and finance team. Duggan joined the firm in 2017 and advises on a range of debt finance transactions.

Clarke Willmott has made two appointments to its Cardiff-based team. Tariq Azim joins the firm from Hogan Lovells as a solicitor in the corporate banking team. Solicitor Jessica Hayward joins the commercial property team from Capital Law and has extensive experience of working with social housing clients.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys has made a number of senior promotions, including Rhys Langley to associate in the Cardiff real estate team.

July

Acuity Law has announced the promotion of Ben Honour to partner in its Cardiff real estate team. 

Paul Hobson has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and deployed to the Wales Circuit, based at Cardiff Crown Court with effect from 18 July 2022. Hobson will be known as His Honour Judge Hobson. He was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 2000. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2019 and as a Legal Member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales in 2021.

Shomon Khan has been appointed as a Circuit Judge and deployed to the Wales Circuit, based at Cardiff Crown Court with effect from 18 July 2022. Khan will be known as His Honour Judge Shomon Khan. He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1996. He was appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) in 2012, as a District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) in 2016 and as a Recorder in 2019.

September

Eversheds Sutherland has announced that partner Kathryn Roberts has been elected chair for a term of four years with effect from 1 September 2022.

Solicitor Ilan Jones has joined the commercial team at Hugh James.

Harding Evans has appointed Charlotte Green as a client claims handler in the clinical negligence department.

Harding Evans has welcomed Jasmine Smith as a member of the wills & probate department. She qualified as a solicitor in 2021.

Loosemores Solicitors has appointed Josh Allsopp as marketing manager.

Harding Evans has appointed Haley Evans as marketing manager.

Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed as President of Welsh Tribunals for a period of four years and will take up the role from 1 April 2023 in succession to Sir Wyn Williams.

Graeme Biggar has been appointed as director general of the National Crime Agency for a term of five years.

Dr Elaine Freer has been appointed as a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council for a tenure of three years.

Emily Foges, a partner at Deloitte Legal, has been appointed as a trustee of Support SEND Kids.

The Society for Computers and Law has announced the creation of a new group

competition and tech - chaired by Hausfeld partner, Luke Streatfeild.

Ann Phillips has been appointed as Charity Commission legal board member.

Nicola Broadhurst has been appointed as the new chair of the International Division of the ABA Forum on Franchising. Broadhurst is a partner and head of franchising at Stevens & Bolton.

Suzy Davies has been appointed a member of the S4C board.

Cat MacLean has been appointed as a legal member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

October

Bird & Bird has welcomed back Wilfred Ng as a partner in the tech & comms team, based in Hong Kong.

November

Ince has announced the appointment of Leighton Sheady as a partner in its commercial property team.

Muckle LLP has welcomed Rachael Stephenson and Tim Boardman as partners to bolster the team’s offering in Cumbria. They will be joined in January 2023 by associate solicitor, Winter Addis.

Blake Morgan has announced the appointment of Trish D’Souza as a legal director within its education sector team, primarily based in the Cardiff office.

Carys Jones has joined Howells solicitors in the role of associate solicitor.

JCP Solicitors has made 13 promotions to senior associate: Angela Killa (family), Benjamin Davies (property litigation), Catherine Almeida (employment law), David Goodway (commercial property), Eleri Roebuck (commercial property), Elinor Laidlaw (medical negligence), Jac Staddon (Court of Protection), Jenna Birch (commercial property), Jonathan Flynn (property litigation), Lauren Sharp (medical negligence), Nick O’Neill (medical negligence), Rebecca Danks (lifetime planning) and Rhianydd Llewellyn-Thomas (Corporate Commercial).