Trio of partners hired at Shoosmiths for Leeds debut

NEW entrant to the Leeds legal scene, Shoosmiths, has poached three partners for its new Leeds base including an office head.

Paul Stokey will be head of the firm’s eleventh office which is due to open in December. He joins from Gordons to lead the regional employment team.

Mr Stokey headed up Gordons’ employment team since 2011, advising clients on mitigating equal pay issues, managing trade union relations, consulting on implications of business acquisitions and disposals and defending on all types of tribunal claims.

Under his leadership, Gordon’s won the Legal 500 Award for Best Regional Employment team in 2014.

Real estate partner Judy Fawcett from Ward Hadaway has also joined the new team. Judy is a development & investment lawyer specialising in mixed-use schemes and acting for real estate lending investors.

She joined Ward Hadaway from Addleshaw Goddard in 2009.

Richard Bellamy is joining himself from Addleshaw Goddard where he was a legal director handling specialised property work for banks, building societies, receivers, administrators and liquidators.

These new hires follow the recent recruitment of employment partners Simon Robinson and Phil Crowe from Gordons who will also be based in Leeds.

Paul Stokey said: “This is an exciting opportunity to lead Shoosmiths’ new office and be instrumental in its growth, both in my new roles as head office and as the team leader for employment. I joined Shoosmiths because I was impressed with the firm’s commitment to clients and its growth plans.

“The opportunity to build Shoosmiths brand and reputation in this region was too good to miss and I’m looking forward to my new role.”

Shoosmiths’ chief executive Claire Rowe commented: “Our Leeds office will provide a full range of legal services for our clients and our recruitment plan reflects this.

“These partners will strengthen the support we can provide nationally and regionally, enhancing our presence in the North of England. This recruitment is a further step towards our goal of creating a Northern hub of legal expertise for our clients with Leeds and Manchester offices working closely together.”