Moving on

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Partners

A boost to the London offices of two US firms kicks off this week's action.

Company commercial lawyer Tom Mackay - one-time head of legal at the London Stock Exchange - has left London firm Amhurst Brown Colombotti to take up partnership at Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle.

The firm has also recently formed an LLP to engage in a multinational practice.

Meanwhile, White & Case has recruited Dan Hamilton as a finance partner from CMS Cameron McKenna.

City firm Bird & Bird continues to boosts its office in The Hague, with employment partner Philip Hartman's arrival from Dutch firm Loyens & Loeff.

Benelux firm Stibbe has stiffened its London office - based at Herbert Smith's offices - by relocating New York tax head Michael Molenaars to lead its London tax team.

Elsewhere in the City, Jeremy Dickerson, who was head of the London intellectual property team at Hammond Suddards Edge, has joined DLA.

Insurance and reinsurance lawyer Darren Hanison has left Stephenson Harwood to become the 16th partner at Middleton Potts.

Olswang has snapped up Freshfields lawyer Simon Briskman as an IT and telecoms partner.

London media firm Harbottle & Lewis has promoted film and TV specialist Abigail Payne and IP lawyer Richard Penfold, and now has 19 partners.

In north London, matrimonial and civil litigation lawyer Mark Kosmin-Barr has been promoted at Osmond Gaunt & Rose, while Harrow-based Harold Benjamin Littlejohn has promoted Marina Vincent and Andrew Tilsiter to partner and head of the employment and personal injury departments respectively.

There are 32 partners at healthcare firm Hempsons, following the promotion of five litigators: David Harris and David Hewitt in London and Manchester respectively, while Paulene Donaldson, Stephen Evans and Ian Lazonby are all based in Harrogate.

The Godalming office of Penningtons has a new corporate partner after Sarah Scarlett moved across Surrey from Guildford firm Hart Brown.

Two more ex-Andersen Legal firm Garretts lawyers have found new homes.

Corporate lawyer Philip Alton has become a partner at Birmingham firm Gateley Wareing, while property lawyer Simon Jones becomes the 39th partner at north-west firm Brabners Chaffe Street.

There are changes at the top end in the Manchester office of Russell Jones & Walker, following Neil Kinsella's promotion to national head of personal injury.

His position as office managing partner goes to David Franey, while Michael Connor takes over as local head of personal injury.

Leeds firm Nelson & Co has 13 partners following the recruitment of property specialist John Foster from Eversheds.

Meanwhile, in Wales, Devonalds founding partner Lyn Devonald has retired, to be replaced as senior partner by Christopher Aubrey.

Meanwhile, Lesley Murphy joins the firm's Pontypridd office as partner and head of family from Spicketts.

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Associates/assistants

Derbyshire-based sole principal Nigel Davis - who chairs the Agricultural Law Association and is a livestock farmer - has expanded his niche practice by recruiting associate Felicity Wyatt from the Norwich branch of Eversheds.

A mixed week for midlands firm Heatons.

It has lost commercial property associate Julie Scott to Bristol firm Meade-King, but has two new recruits: planning solicitor Nicola Bell has joined the Stoke office from Hammonds Suddards Edge, while corporate finance associate Nicky Collins has joined the Manchester office from Brabners Chaffe Street.

In Sheffield, Taylor & Emmet has scooped up commercial litigation associate Rob Cooke from Wake Smith.

David Garfitt is the new head of wills, trusts and probate at York firm Langleys.

He joins as an associate from Powell & Young.

Bradford commercial firm Schofield Sweeney has recruited two litigators: Khaled Bashir from the London office of top US firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, and Elizabeth Laughton from Leeds firm Mason Bond.

Also leaving London is corporate tax solicitor Richard Clitherow, who has joined Manchester firm Halliwell Landau from Linklaters.

Elsewhere in Manchester, employment lawyer Deborah Hely has swapped partnership at Davis Blank Furniss to become an associate at Beachcroft Wansbroughs.

London private capital firm Boodle Hatfield has recruited senior assistants Fiona Graham and Geoffrey Todd to its financial planning department from Bircham Dyson Bell and Allen & Overy respectively.

Jolyon Barton has left Reading firm Clarks to become associate and head of private client at Newbury practice Gardner Leader.

Exeter firm Stones has boosted its dispute resolution team with Maeve Bonner and Daniel Stevens from Pitts Tucker and Boyes Turner respectively.

CORRECTION

Charlotte Rosser, who was recently promoted to associate at Robinsons, is based in the Derby office, not as stated in [2002] Gazette, 4 July, 10.