Legal Appointments: Shakespeare Martineau; Lodders; Mills & Reeve; Wright Hassall
LAW firm Shakespeare Martineau has promoted seven people to associate and six to legal director in Birmingham and one in the Stratford office, supporting their drive to nurture the hottest talent on the market.
The launch of the Shakespeare Martineau Academy has played a key role in training and developing the team at the firm, and has supported more than 650 people in the last year.
Promotions in the region include Emma Bryant , Laura Murphy, Ravinder Johal, Alan Dark, Rachael Hobbis, Lisa Watts and Catherine Yule to legal director, as well as Andrew Rushfirth, Sophie Samani, James Thomas, Hannah Oseland, Charlotte Fisher, Justine Ball and Gareth Hegarty to associate. The promotions mark the growth of the firm’s corporate, real estate and litigation practices.
Victoria Tester, Birmingham-based HR director at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Our clients are seeking advisers that are not only fluent in the law but can apply it to their businesses or personal affairs with commercial integrity.
“There is no doubt that those who have been rewarded for all their hard work have taken advantage of the academy in order to take the next step in their careers.”
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WARWICKSHIRE law firm Lodders has announced a series of associate promotions in its Stratford-upon-Avon-based Dispute Resolution, Residential Property and Probate & Wills teams.
The firm’s newest associates are Amrit Samra, who originally joined Lodders as a trainee, Rebecca Bradley, and Rachel Philips who joined the firm’s residential property team last year.
Amrit Samra completed her training at Lodders in 2012 and specialises in both property and general commercial litigation as part of the Dispute Resolution team, led by partner Jane Senior.
Rebecca Bradley joined Lodders as a secretary in 2000 and became a fee earner in 2002. A full member of STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners), she deals with the administration of mainly large and often complex estates through Lodders’ Private Client team.
The third promotion is for licensed conveyancer Rachel Phillips, who moved to Lodders residential property team in June 2015.
Commenting on the trio of associate promotions, Lodders’ senior partner, Martin Green, said: “All three promotions are in recognition of a great deal of hard work and an important contribution to the success of Amrit’s, Rebecca’s and Rachel’s respective teams.”
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MILLS & REEVE has welcomed Senior Associate Arvin Bhamra to its Birmingham banking team.
Ms Bhamra (left), who previously worked at Anthony Collins, has 13 years of experience on real estate financings and securitisations, and is a specialist in social housing.
Her appointment builds on that of David Varnham in January as head of the banking team in the firm’s Colmore Row office.
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LEAMINGTON law firm Wright Hassall has bolstered its senior management team with the appointment of a new Sales Director.
Jon Preston (pictured with managing partner Sarah Perry) brings more than 20 years of business development and client care experience in the legal industry. He joins from Shakespeare Martineau in Birmingham.
He will work closely with managing partner Sarah Perry, and marketing director Vikki Whittemore.
“The vision Sarah Perry and the other partners have for the future of the firm really excited me,” he said.
“The firm has an aggressive growth strategy for the next ten years and beyond and the opportunity to play a big part was too good to turn down.”
Mr Preston has a background in multiple sectors, including banking and financial services, education, energy and AME.
Ms Perry said: “Jon has a proven track record in winning new business in the legal industry in the UK and globally. He also works alongside clients on project management ensuring that objectives are met on time and within budget and we’re delighted to welcome him to the firm.”
“We have grown significantly in recent years and want to build on that momentum and view the appointment of a sales director as key in achieving that ambition.”
