Moving on

PRIVATE PRACTICEPartnershipPresumably inspired by their clients, a number of property lawyers were this month in the throes of moves.

Starting the trend was West Country firm Bevan Ashford, which appointed two new partners to its property team this week.

Alison Buckingham and Ken Mortimer have both been promoted from associates to partners within the commercial property department.

Itchy feet are apparently plaguing the south-west's law firms as William Juckes, formerly of Eversheds' Bristol office, has joined Clarke Willmot & Clarke as a partner in the commercial property team, bringing the number of partners in the firm's property and planning department to 15.

Back in London, Daniel Polden has joined Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn HRK as a partner and head of the property department.

Previously at niche property firm Ross & Craig, where he was head of department, Mr Polden specialises in property finance.Peter Lewis has been promoted to partner in the commercial property team of Rosling King.

Helen Thurkettle has also been made up to partner, as a commercial litigator with professional negligence expertise.

Rosling King also this week promoted Madeleine James to an associate in its commercial property team.From commercial property to intellectual property, and Manchester firm Pannone & Partners has appointed John McMuldroch to head up its IP department.

Mr McMuldroch, who joins from Boyds in Glasgow and is dual qualified, replaces partner Laurie Heizler, who moved to Leamington Spa firm Wright Hassall.

Birmingham firm Martineau Johnson is strengthening its national education practice with the appointment of Rachel Woolf to head up its education and employment team in the London office.

Ms Woolf joins from Lawfords, and her new role will involve strengthening the firm's work for universities and colleges in the south east.Cardiff-based Evans & Greaves has appointed Andrew Costley, an experienced crime lawyer and duty solicitor formerly of Sheffiled firm Howells, to head its crime department.

Alison Bluck, formerly an associate at Osborne Clarke in London, has been appointed head of insolvency at London and Manchester-based commercial firm Laytons.

Further afield, Clifford Chance's Hong Kong office has appointed Martin Rogers as a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group.

Mr Rogers, previously at Herbert Smith's Hong Kong base, will focus on contentious regulatory and insolvency work when he takes up his role in February next year.

PRIVATE PRACTICEAssociates assistants/The moving bug hit all levels of the property sector, with a rash of firms recruiting associates and assistants to boost their property and conveyancing teams.

First up was Manchester firm Cobbetts, which has recruited Melanie Kirby, previously of Addleshaw Booth & Co, to its commercial property group.

Moving to the midlands, and Richard Johnson, previously at Shoosmiths in Nottingham, has joined the property team at Nabarro Nathanson's Sheffield office.

Also at Nabarros, Matthew Sibley has joined the company/commercial department from the Leeds office of Pinsent Curtis.

Also in Sheffield, Sarah Robson-Burrell has recently joined the domestic conveyancing team of Wake Smith from Surrey-based Carter Bells.Another conveyancing lawyer, Kevin Reddy, this week joined Glossop and High Peak firm Davis Blank Furniss.

He was previously at Glossop firm Aspinall Wright & Co.

Moving south, Cheltenham firm Rickerby Watterson has expanded its commercial property department with the appointment of Stuart Bailey, formerly of Malvern firm MJ Payton & Co, as an assistant.

Guildford firm Stevens & Bolton has promoted Jane Sword to an associate in its property department, specialising in residential transactions.

Also promoted to associate is Beverly Flynn, who handles a wide range of commercial matters and has specialised expertise in data protection law.

North-east firm Ward Hadaway has promoted seven solicitors to associate: Simon Errington in the commercial property unit, Robin Atkin in the planning unit, Claire Malt in the commercial litigation department, Sarah Huxley and Peter Judge in the corporate finance unit, Andrew Finfer in the trade and regulatory team and Kirsten Cook in private client work.

Ward Hadaway has also recruited Paul Christian as an associate in its corporate team from Eversheds, and newly qualified Shirley Scott has joined the health care team.Black Country firm George Green has expanded its corporate department with the appointment of an associate and solicitor.

Hilary Ripalo originally qualified with the firm and rejoins as an associate after seven years lecturing at the University of Wolverhampton.

Ruth Horton has joined the firm from Evesham-based Saunders Roberts.