On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

Law firm Nelsons has promoted three employees within its personal injury, residential property and dispute resolution teams.

Personal injury specialist Dianne Collins has been promoted to legal director, supporting the department to further enhance its services.

Craig Bennet and Catherine Griffiths have also been promoted to senior associates in Derby, with Bennet dealing with commercial litigation in the dispute resolution team and Griffiths advising on conveyancing in the residential property team.

Collins has been with Nelsons since 2012, specialisms include child abuse and accident claims, as well as criminal injury cases.

She was involved in the Aston Hall psychiatric hospital action claim, which saw more than 100 victims of historic abuse receive a settlement.

Collins said: “The personal injury team has seen significant growth in recent years and as legal director, I’ll be supporting the head of the department, Lisa Preece, to continue raising the team’s profile and showcasing our expertise in handling high-value claims.  Dealing with sensitive issues such as child abuse and catastrophic injuries can be difficult, but it’s so rewarding to know you’re making a difference in these people’s lives, and speaking to clients is one of my favourite parts of the job.

“The culture at Nelson’s is hugely supportive and it’s a really exciting time for the firm, especially since becoming part of  Lawfront last year.  I am looking forward to helping the department thrive even further.”

Bennet qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and joined the dispute resolution team at Nelsons in January 2023, specialising in commercial litigation and insolvency.

Griffiths joined Nelsons in August 2019 and has expertise in freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity and land registrations.

Stewart Vandermark, chief executive at Nelsons, said: “Dianne, Craig and Catherine have shown great commitment and dedication to their departments and clients. They are all an integral part of their teams in Derby. I would like to congratulate the three of them on their well-deserved promotions, and look forward to seeing their continued growth at Nelsons.”

Andrew + Ashwell, a property consultancy firm in Leicestershire has announced the promotion of two surveyors within its leadership team.

Kelvin Wilson, a professional with a wealth of experience in the industry, has been elevated to the position of director, having previously served as an associate director. Additionally, Joe Dodd has been promoted to associate director.

Kelvin Wilson has been a part of Andrew + Ashwell for several years, in his new role, Wilson will play a key role in shaping the direction of the firm, driving growth, and ensuring the continued delivery of service to clients.

He said: “I am honoured and excited to take on the role of director. Having been at the firm 10 years this year, starting as a fresh faced Graduate in 2014, I have seen the company continue to evolve and I look forward to building on our long term reputation of excellence and to continue driving the company forwards.”

Joe Dodd will also continue to play a key role in supporting the company’s growth and success, working closely with the leadership team to drive innovation and excellence in service delivery for clients, whilst helping the younger
members of the team to progress.

Dodd said: “I am very proud to be given a new role and responsibilities as associate director. I have been fortunate to gain guidance from a team with a wealth of experience and I am committed to continuing to deliver the highest standard of service to new and existing clients and contributing to the ongoing success of the company.”