People: Ampa group; Burns & McDonnell; Shakespeare Martineau

Ampa group, which includes full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau, has announced Justine Ball will jointly lead its Birmingham office alongside existing office head James Woolstenhulme.

Real estate disputes partner Ball will join forces with dispute resolution partner Woolstenhulme, both partners in Shakespeare Martineau, in a co-leadership role at the group’s largest hub, which is home to more than 575 people.

Together, the pair bring a breadth of expertise and experience that will drive forward the group’s plans for the region, supporting business growth, developing talent and creating deeper connections with the local community.

Ball, who began her legal career at Shakespeare Martineau as a trainee in 2011, said: “I’m incredibly proud to be taking on this role alongside James at such a pivotal moment for our Birmingham office. As a city, Birmingham represents both rich heritage and huge future potential, and our office is central to that journey.

“We’re deeply embedded in the region, with the Birmingham office being Shakespeare Martineau’s birthplace and central to our ongoing investment in the West Midlands. Our aim is to harness our greatest strengths – our talent and our deep-rooted connections in the region – to cultivate our growth plans for the office.

“We are also so proud of being a responsible business that is committed to continuously building upon the positive and dynamic culture that benefits our people, our clients and the wider community.”

Woolstenhulme, who qualified with the firm in 2011, said: “Welcoming Justine as joint-head marks a fresh chapter for Birmingham and I’m excited about what we’ll achieve together. Our role is about more than leadership – it’s about championing the incredible talent here, strengthening our client relationships, and ensuring our office reflects the ambition and opportunity of the West Midlands.”

Ampa is a certified B Corporation, meaning it is legally required to consider the impact of business decisions on its people, customers, suppliers, communities and the environment. Ampa currently employs more than 1,400 people across 22 UK hubs.

Brands from the group that are based in Birmingham are Shakespeare Martineau; planning, design and development consultancy Marrons; consumer champion law firm Lime Solicitors; uninsured loss recovery experts Corclaim; and Coadax, which supports businesses navigating complex M&A and strategic challenges.

Ampa CEO Sarah Walker-Smith said: “The Midlands has always played a strategically important role in our group’s growth journey. It’s where Shakespeare Martineau began and remains a key part of our wider ecosystem of thriving hubs.

“Our continued commitment to the region reflects our belief in investing in places where we have strong roots, great talent and deep community connections. Empowering exceptional local leaders like Justine and James is central to how we drive sustainable growth across all our locations and deliver positive impact for our people, clients and communities.”

Global engineering and construction firm Burns & McDonnell has promoted Jason Chandler to the position of transmission & distribution managing director for the UK.

Chandler will be responsible for the strategic development, leadership and continued advancement of transmission & distribution project delivery in the UK.

He brings 34 years of experience in engineering, construction and project management across a range of industrial and infrastructure sectors, with the past 11 years focused on transmission & distribution project delivery.

Jason Chandler

After joining Burns & McDonnell in 2020, he has held several roles within transmission & distribution and most recently served as Regional Operations Director.

In these roles, Chandler has been instrumental in shaping and delivering the strategic vision for Burns & McDonnell, driving organisational change and embedding continuous improvement across global operations. His leadership has contributed to optimising delivery frameworks to better support organisational strategy and project outcomes.

Chandler said: “I’m delighted to take on this new role and drive forward the work of the Transmission & Distribution practice in the U.K. We have a brilliant team in place, and I’m excited to build on our strong foundations to deliver innovative, value-driven solutions for our clients. The U.K. has ambitious energy infrastructure plans, and I’m looking forward to supporting a more resilient and sustainable energy future.”

Kyle Roberts, executive managing director for the UK at Burns & McDonnell said: “Jason’s promotion reflects the depth of talent we have at Burns & McDonnell. His proven experience, strategic mindset and track record of delivering complex projects make him the ideal person to lead the growth of our Transmission & Distribution practice across the U.K. As we continue to expand and integrate our operations nationwide, Jason will play a pivotal role in strengthening collaboration across our offices and delivering long-term value for our clients.”

Full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Tim Speed and Vanessa Joll as joint heads of its litigation practice.

With a focus on commercial litigation, Speed’s work spans a broad range of complex disputes, with a particular focus on energy, insolvency and corporate litigation.

Tim Speed and Vanessa Joll

Overseeing the real estate disputes and housing and asset management side of the practice, Joll advises on a broad range of property-related disputes, with a focus on the commercial property and residential development sectors.

Speed said: “It’s an exciting time to be stepping into this leadership role as we continue to scale up our litigation services nationally. We’re seeing a rise in demand for commercially focused, strategic advice, and we’re well-placed to support clients with the complex challenges they’re facing.”

Joll said: “It’s a privilege to co-lead a team of such depth and calibre. The real estate disputes landscape is becoming increasingly complex – from building safety issues to development-related disputes – and we’re committed to helping clients find clear, commercially sensible solutions in challenging situations.”