People: Niche law firm further expands children’s department; Trainees qualify at Clarion; and more

Specialist law firm Jones Myers, based in Leeds and London, is further expanding the expertise of its children’s department.

Kavya Balram, who was formerly in practice in India and is in the process of qualifying as a UK solicitor under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer scheme, is the latest addition to the department where Lisa Stephenson has recently been promoted from legal assistant to paralegal.

Headed by Kate Banerjee, the team attracts complex and varied casework in the UK and overseas, their specialist knowledge includes private law residence, contact and adoption as well as special guardianship, relocation and public law cases.

Banerjee said: “Appointing Kavya to our busy team reflects our ever-increasing caseload as we continue to witness a substantial increase in global commissions spanning international child abduction and issues centred on welfare, jurisdiction, relocation and overseas adoption.

“Aligned with our ethos of developing young talent, we were pleased to offer Kavya work experience and mentoring prior to her official appointment.”

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Alex, Lehany, Caitlin Johnson, Sarah Cameron, Kerri-Anne Ball

Clarion has announced it is retaining all four of its second-year trainees who will qualify and join the firm’s specialist legal teams as solicitors from September.

Alex Lehany is due to qualify into Clarion’s commercial dispute resolution team, Kerri-Anne Ball into private client services, Caitlin Johnson will be joining the corporate team and Sarah Cameron will qualify into corporate recovery.

“Our people are the key to our continued growth and the cornerstone of the service we deliver for businesses in Yorkshire and nationally,” said Alice Pratt, corporate recovery partner who heads up the trainee programme at Clarion.

“We are very proud of our record in recent years of retaining 100% of our trainees and all of these individuals exemplify the talent, behaviours and technical skills expected within Clarion.  Alex, Kerri-Anne, Caitlin and Sarah have all been recognised for their enthusiasm and fresh thinking during their time with the firm.  Their promotions are very well deserved and we wish them many congratulations on their success. We look forward to working with them as they graduate to become newly qualified solicitors in the coming months.”
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Construction supplier Marshalls has appointed Graham Prothero to the board as a non-executive director.

Mark Edwards, non-executive director and chair of the audit committee, who has served on the board since May 2010, has announced his intention to retire from the board in May.

It is expected that Prothero will succeed Edwards as chair of the audit committee.

Prothero is a chartered accountant and is an executive director and group chief financial officer of Galliford Try, the FTSE 250 housebuilding, regeneration and construction group.

Andrew Allner, chairman of Marshalls, said: “I am delighted that Graham Prothero will be joining the Board as a non-executive director to succeed Mark Edwards. He brings broad financial and relevant sector experience and will be a valuable addition to the Board. I would also like to express our thanks to Mark Edwards, who is stepping down after seven years’ service on the Marshalls board and as chair of the audit committee. Mark’s contribution to the board and the company is greatly appreciated.”