Lodders doubles size of key Midlands office

MIDLANDS law firm Lodders has doubled the size of its Cheltenham office after a brace of commercial partner appointments from near neighbour Maitland Walker. Together with the acquisition of the town’s boutique family law practice, Jordans Solicitors.
 
The developments mean an additional seven members of staff have joined the firm, while it has also introduced a new specialist family law service.
The office now has 17 staff members, while across the whole operation the workforce now totals 120 people. The firm also has offices in Stratford upon Avon and Henley in Arden.
 
Joining as partners from Maitland Walker are Nick Rowe, previously head of the employment team at the firm and Lodders’ new Head of Employment, and corporate and commercial department head, Steve Thomas.
 
Barbara Jordan, one of Cheltenham’s most highly respected and experienced divorce and family lawyers, has also joined Lodders as partner.
 
The acquisition of Jordans Solicitors, a well established family law practice in Cheltenham, creates a specialist family and matrimonial service offering for Lodders in Cheltenham that compliments its existing services.
Moving to the firm with Barbara Jordan are family lawyer Erin Sawyer, and three support staff.
 
Partner Paul Mourton, who leads the Cheltenham office, said: “We launched with five staff and an ambition to grow by adding talented legal professionals with complimentary specialisms to the team – and we swiftly achieved this aim, growing the team to nine in our first 18 months.
 
“With the arrival of Barbara and the new family law team, Nick and Steve, we have doubled the team, with staff numbers now standing at 17.”

The new family team will be part of the firm’s Private Client team, headed by Lodders’ senior partner Martin Green.
 

Shoosmiths’ medical negligence team looking healthy

SHOOSMITHS Access Legal has expanded its medical negligence team in Birmingham with the appointment of senior associate, Victoria Blankstone.
 
Ms Blankstone qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and joins from Irwin Mitchell.  Before studying law and qualifying as a solicitor Ms Blankstone was a theatre nurse and brings her health service knowledge to her work.

She is a Law Society accredited panel member in the field of clinical negligence with extensive experience in multiparty claims, fatal injury and inquests. In addition to dealing with complex claims involving neurological injury, she has a special interest in cancer cases and has taken a lead on the widely publicised Ian Paterson breast cancer litigation.
 
Ms Blankstone also has significant experience in dealing with the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, giving guidance to clients on the legal process and assisting them as witnesses at a full hearing.

Phil Barnes, medical negligence partner at Shoosmiths Access Legal, said: “Victoria’s knowledge and expertise in this highly specialised area and her dedication to delivering excellent client service will undoubtedly enhance our already strong and experienced team.”

The right creed for Sydney Mitchell

SYDNEY Mitchell has strengthened its private client team with the appointment of Tracy Creed to partner.

She heads the private client team at Sydney Mitchell having rejoined the firm as an associate three years ago.

“Tracy is a specialist in elderly client advice and is well known in the Midlands for this work.  We are pleased to welcome her into the partnership. This reinforces and rewards the excellent work she has done with the team. She has great skill in providing clear, straightforward advice to clients and her colleagues and is very deserving of this promotion” said partner Karen Moores.

Ms Creed, a qualified solicitor, has extensive experience in all areas of private client work including trusts, wills, probate, power of attorney, deputyship, inheritance tax planning, estate planning and care funding issues.

Sydney Mitchell has offices in Birmingham, Shirley and Sheldon.  It employs over 100 people and has 11 partners.

Pictured from left: Sarah Archer, Tracy Creed and Karen Moores – all partners at Sydney Mitchell.