Knights poaches partner from Nottingham rival

One of the East Midlands most high-profile commercial property lawyers has joined Derby-based Knights Professional Services from an East Midlands rival.

Holly Smith joins Knights as partner from Nottingham-based Buckles, where she played a part in setting up the firm’s Nottingham office. Before that she worked for Geldards in Nottingham. Smith started her career in the East Midlands in Derby with Robinsons Solicitors.

In 2012 Knights became the first professional services business in the UK to attract private equity investment after selling a stake to Hamilton Bradshaw Capital Partners. It employs 300 people in Chester, Cheltenham, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Derby, Oxford, Hale and Colchester, and is a Top 70 law firm.