Legal Appointments; Specialist joins Hammonds; Emsleys appoints and more

A round-up of the week’s legal appointments.

THE Yorkshire offices of international legal services firm DLA Piper have been boosted by a record number of newly qualified lawyers, graduates and trainees.

The firm’s Yorkshire ranks have been swelled by 18 newly qualified lawyers including three corporate, four litigation and four banking lawyers.

A further 22 trainee lawyers have joined the Leeds and Sheffield offices, that employ a total of 865 staff in the two cities.

Several of the newly qualified lawyers have opted to take placements in Dubai, Japan and Russia, ensuring the firm’s international expertise continues to grow.

Leeds office managing partner Neil McLean, said: “With two very strong offices in Yorkshire it’s crucial that we bring the very best legal talent through the firm and invest in growing our regional, national and international capacity. We have some outstanding young people joining the firm, and as well as the cream of the UK legal graduates, we have recruited newly qualified lawyers who will experience working in the Russian, Dubai and Japanese markets, ensuring we broaden our international capacity for clients looking overseas for new opportunities.”

The firm has grown from its Leeds and Sheffield roots to become one of the world’s leading legal services organisations with 64 offices in 25 countries.

The Sheffield teams will be boosted by seven newly qualified lawyers, and nine graduates whilst Leeds office has retained 11 newly qualifieds and 13 graduates.

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HAMMONDS has strengthened its international trade and commodities offering in Leeds with the arrival of senior associate Marie Brittenden.

Ms Brittenden is a senior litigator who spent seven years across the City international trade practices of Holman Fenwick & Willan, and most recently, Clyde & Co.

She specialises in the resolution of trade and commodity disputes, many of which involve shipping and technical issues.

In addition, Ms Brittenden is experienced in disputes relating to the sale and supply of grain, fruit, metals, coal, gas, ethanol, and other commodities.

Her expertise also extends to the handling of multi-jurisdictional disputes, including those involving ship arrests.

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HLW McCombie Commercial Lawyers has expanded its insolvency team in Leeds with the appointment of a new solicitor.

Jo Smith joins from Ison Harrison Solicitors with 8 years experience of both contentious and non contentious insolvency work and restructuring, working predominantly for Insolvency Practitioners and directors.

The move follows the merger in June of the Leeds office of hlw Commercial Lawyers and McCombie & Co, with managing partners David Guest and Ian McCombie heading the new firm.

Since opening in 2006 the Leeds office has more than tripled in size, with the insolvency team being at the forefront of this development.

Jo Smith said: “Unfortunately, insolvency is an area of law that rarely means celebrations. However, hlw McCombie’s ethos of focussing on commercial solutions through restructuring and business planning is a positive approach to a difficult situation and one which I share.”

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LEEDS-BASED solicitors and estate agency, Emsleys, announced the promotion of two team members from its commercial property and family law departments.

Matthew Walsh, who has headed up the commercial property department since he joined the firm as an associate solicitor in February 2007, has been promoted to the role of senior associate.

Mr Walsh and his team provide advice to commercial and residential developers as well as private companies, owner- managed businesses, land owners, investors and funders on a wide range of property matters.

Tina Abbott has also been promoted to the role of senior associate.

Since joining the company in 2001 as head of the family law department, she has provided expert legal advice on all aspects of family law, guiding clients through the legal processes of divorce and separation, civil partnerships and collaborative law.

Andrew Greenwood, partner at Emsleys said: “Matthew and Tina are both extremely valued members of the team. As a firm we believe that investing in, and developing, our existing staff is essential in moving the firm forward and ensuring success. Both Matthew and Tina will now play key roles in the strategic development of the practice.”