New partner for Weightmans

WEIGHTMANS has expanded the Commercial Dispute Resolution (CDR) division at its Birmingham office with the recruitment of new partner Mark Surguy.

Surguy, who moves from Eversheds, has over 25 years’ private practice experience of domestic and international commercial litigation, fraud and insolvency.

He practices in commercial misconduct, including corporate investigations and wrongdoing across multiple sectors.

He also has specialist expertise and knowledge in computer forensics, digital evidence, data protection and E-Discovery.

Robert Jones, National Head of CDR and Insolvency at Weightmans, said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark to Weightmans CDR team to head up our Birmingham presence. He will provide his expertise to our clients nationally and internationally, and is well placed to build on the success and grow the CDR team in Birmingham.”
 

New trainees at Lodders

LODDERS has recruited two new trainees to work on its in-house development programme.

Mohammed Abbas and Jenny Cockett have joined a programme that has a strong track record for the firm, with 70% of its trainees staying with Lodders post qualification, many joining the firm’s partnership and remaining at the firm throughout their careers.
 
Most recently, these include Louise Igoe, who was promoted to equity partner in July, partner and business and commercial specialist Kim Klahn, associates Rebecca Freeman and Laura Abbott, solicitors Amrit Samra, Katherine Burge, and Hannah Taylor, and Krishna Gokani and Lauren Watson, who both qualified earlier this year.
 
Lodders’ 2015 trainees are based at the firm’s Stratford upon Avon office and have their first seat in Lodders’ agricultural and estates team, one of the largest dedicated to the sector in the Midlands.
 
Mohammed Abbas joined Lodders after graduating in 2012 and completing a LPC on a part-time basis alongside working as a paralegal at firms in London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham, most recently at SGH Martineau and Shoosmiths.
 
Jenny Cockett graduated in law in 2014 and completed her LPC at the University of Law in Bristol.

Lodders’ senior partner Martin Green said: “Supporting new entrants to the profession and their professional development, both ‘on the job’ and with their qualifications, is at the foundation of our strategy. Our trainee programme has launched the careers of very many of our fee earners and senior members of the team and partnership.”
 

New Hall for Alsters Kelley

ALSTERS KELLEY has appointed Tony Hall as Senior Solicitor and Head of Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury.

Hall (left) joins the firm from Anthony Collins Solicitors where he had been head of the clinical negligence and personal injury team.

Cathy Wahlberg, Operations & Finance Member, said: “Tony will be a great asset to the firm with his extensive experience not only in law but in managing people – readily equipping him to successfully lead, manage and expand our clinical negligence and personal injury teams.”

Hall is an accredited solicitor on the Law Society panel for Clinical Negligence and for Personal Injury and has been an approved solicitor for AVMA (Action against Medical Accidents) for more than 15 years.