Nottingham law firm promotes six

Paragon Law, the Nottingham-based immigration law firm, has announced a string of promotions.

Mark Lilley-Tams and Deirdre Sheahan have been promoted to director.

Lilley-Tams originally joined the firm as a legal clerk before completing a Masters in Human Rights funded by Paragon Law as part of the Paragon law Scholarship. He is part of Paragon’s private immigration team specialising in cases involving family members and cases which have a strong human rights dimension to them.

Sheahan, whose LPC was funded by Paragon Law and also has a Masters in Human Rights from Nottingham Trent University now heads up Paragon Law’s Asylum and Human Rights team.

Sally McEwen has been promoted to senior associate having relocated from London to work with Paragon Law on a recommendation and will work closely with Deirdre Sheahan.

Aldijana Hoad, who originally came to the UK aged 13 with assistance from the British Red Cross and whose family was originally represented by Thalej Vasishta with Aldijana translating for her parents was one of the first trainees at Paragon Law. Hoad has been made senior sssociate and will work closely with Mark Lilley-Tams.

Nigel Smith originally qualified in New Zealand before moving to London and up to Nottingham. With over 15 years experience in global immigration he has been promoted to associate, working within the personal immigration team. Paragon Law is currently funding his Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

Also promoted to associate is Lydia Watkinson, a former employment lawyer working alongside Thalej Vasishta and co-director Kirin Abbas in the Corporate Immigration team.

Founder and managing director of Paragon Law, Thalej Vasishta, said: “It is fantastic to have such a diverse team working with us who can also offer their own unique perspective, experience and expertise but the one common denominator here is quality. These are all high calibre, talented individuals working right here in Nottingham. It is fantastic that we can attract them, retain them and develop them here in the city and the team and I look forward to them playing their part in another fruitful year.”