New promotions and appointments at Gateley

GATELEY has announced a series of appointments at its Birmingham office. The firm has hired five trainee solicitors and one newly qualified solicitor. In addition, it has made eight promotions.

Jacob Robinson becomes corporate partner, while Karen Levesley, Corporate Dispute Resolution, Ryan Ferguson, Residential Development and James Madill, Real Estate, all become senior associates.

Tom Rush, Corporate, Amira Khan, Construction, Owen Humphries, Residential Development and Louise Phillips, Corporate Recovery, are all made associates.

Trainees Harriet Eales, Amy Jones, James Miller, Clare Swinnerton and Joanne Symes have been recruited from a range of academic backgrounds. They will be attached to a number of departments including employment, real estate, construction, corporate and corporate recovery as they undertake four seats, each lasting six months.

Gateley has also appointed newly-qualified solicitor, Sonia Mal, to the corporate recovery team. Having trained with the firm and completed seats in real estate, construction, corporate and corporate recovery, she will specialise in complex litigation, fraud, tax avoidance and claims against directors.

Senior partner, Mike Ward, said: “We are delighted to make these key appointments. People are our most important asset and we invest carefully in the future of the firm and our people. Developing and retaining talent within the region is critical to our long term growth.

“It has been a significant year for our team which, despite operating in a market that continues to present its challenges, has seen the firm move from 50th to 48th in the 2013 Legal Week Top 50 UK Law Firm rankings.”

Kennedys underlines ambitions with raid on Browne Jacobson

KENNEDYS has strengthened its growing team of professional indemnity lawyers at its Birmingham office.

Alison Siniver, a highly experienced professional indemnity lawyer, has joined the firm as a senior solicitor after 13 years at Browne Jacobson. She focuses primarily on claims against accountants, solicitors, barristers and insurance brokers. Over recent years she has also dealt with many claims against emerging professionals, such as surveyors, architects, engineers, for an array of insurers.

Eamon Mooney, partner and head of Kennedys’ Birmingham professional indemnity team, said: “We are thrilled to have Alison joining us. At a time when professionals are facing greater risks, and their position and that of their insurers needs greater protection, someone of Alison’s expertise and reputation can only help us work ever more effectively for professionals in the Midlands.”

Her appointment will be followed by that of solicitor, Joanne Lewis, who will also arrive from Browne Jacobson, and Emily Huva, who is qualifying at Kennedys. The new appointments grow the firm’s professional indemnity team to 11 lawyers, making it one of the largest in Birmingham.

Mooney said the appointments underlined the ambitions of the firm, which has grown from nothing in Birmingham five years ago to now having almost 35 insurance lawyers.

George Green partner appointed Employment Judge

A PARTNER at Black Country law firm George Green has been appointed as a Fee Paid Employment Judge.

Tim Lang’s appointment is one of only 40 appointments made nationally by the Lord Chancellor and he will sit part time in the London North and West region. Mr Lang, pictured, has been a partner at George Green since 2003 and, prior to that, was a partner at national firm Weightmans.

He said: “I am delighted to be appointed as a result of what was a very rigorous selection process. I will still be spending most of my time advising George Green clients on employment law issues but I am sure the appointment will significantly enhance the service the firm provides as a result of the valuable insight I will obtain into the Employment Tribunal litigation process.”

Paul Bennett, senior partner, George Green said: “Many of our partners are leaders in their respective disciplines. We are delighted by Tim’s judicial appointment, which provides due recognition of a unique talent.”