PRIVATE PRACTICE

Partners

The most high-profile move sees Clifford Chance telecoms partner Tim Schwarz leave for City rival Linklaters, where he will be responsible for the development of the international telecoms practice.

Alan Davis leaves City firm Denton Wilde Sapte to become a partner and head of the London competition team at national firm Pinsents.

Corporate and media firm Marriott Harrison has appointed Simon Charles as a partner in its corporate team.

Mr Charles has spent the last three years as an associate director at investment banking and institutional stockbroking company Numis Securities, where he specialised in equity fundraising and acquisitions.

Construction firm Fenwick Elliott has promoted Nicholas Gould, a dual-qualified quantity surveyor and solicitor, to partner.

Elsewhere in London, Glovers has recruited banking and property finance specialist Richard Gilchrist from Denton Wilde Sapte as a partner.

Guildford firm Stevens & Bolton has hired Denton Wilde Sapte's head of employment, Stephanie Dale, as a partner and head of employment.

In Sussex, Michael Newbold has been promoted to partner in the conveyancing team at Shoreham-by-Sea firm Wannop & Fox.

Salisbury firm Wilsons has hired two new partners for its charity department: Peter Jeffreys and Peter Steer arrive from Oxford firm Henmans.

Midlands-based Browne Jacobson has promoted three new partners in its Nottingham and Birmingham offices: Bridget Tatham (personal injury), Fiona Carter (regulatory) and Richard Cox (corporate).

Insurance lawyer Stephen Robb leaves Weightman Vizards to become a partner at Nottingham firm Berryman Shacklock.

Also in Nottingham, Fraser Brown has promoted Tony Russell, head of its employment team, to partner.

Farther north, Leeds firm Milners has recruited two partners: Oliver Nelson (personal and corporate recovery) arrives from regional firm Cobbetts and Robert Kelly (commercial property) joins from fellow Leeds firm Lupton Fawcett.

Also in Leeds, Cobbetts has launched a pensions department with the hire of Richard Shelton as a partner.

Mr Shelton joins from the local office of City firm DLA, where he was a senior lawyer.

In Newcastle, employ-ment and company specialist Chris Welch has been promoted to partner at Sintons.

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Associates / assistants

In the capital, Bindman & Partners has hired two assistants for its personal injury and clinical negligence team: Siobhan Kelly arrives from Bristol-based Veale Wasbrough, while Harriet Payter joins from Russell Jones & Walker.

Two new heads of department from the City for Kent firm Cripps Harries Hall: Mike Burton (IT) joins from Lawrence Graham and Adrian Jennings (finance) leaves Denton Wilde Sapte.

Moving west, Wiltshire firm Wood Awdry & Ford has appointed two new criminal law solicitors: Gordon Hotson joins from Didcot firm Hedges as an associate and head of department, while Trevor Line, former senior partner of Wiltshire counterpart Lemon Line, joins as a consultant.

In Bristol, property specialist Ian Davies leaves Beachcroft Wansbroughs for the banking and lender services group of TLT.

Four new associates promoted at Black Country firm Higgs & Sons: Claire Cartwright (private client), Mark Jones (commercial property), Lynda Gudgeon (crime) and Jenny Shone (personal injury).

In the midlands, Giles Warrington joins the competition team at Pinsents' Birmingham office after leaving City firm Herbert Smith.

In Derby, Ben Yates joins the construction department of regional firm Eldwards Geldard from the Sheffield office of City firm Nabarro Nathanson.

Browne Jacobson has promoted three solicitors to associate: Leanne Lockley (corporate) and Philip Jelly (pensions) in Nottingham, and Oliver Pritchard (corporate) in Birmingham.

Also in Nottingham, Mala Patel joins Fraser Brown as an assistant in the employment team from London firm L Bingham & Co.

Farther north, the Manchester office of Preston firm Ricksons has recruited Simon John, who is a dual-qualified solicitor and quantity surveyor, from Halliwell Landau.

Two new solicitors for Stockport firm Gorvins: Moira Percival leaves Altrincham firm Hill & Co to join the probate team, while child-law specialist Stephanie Newton arrives from Suffolk County Council.

In Yorkshire, Michael Lawson has joined the defendant litigation team at Leeds firm Nelson & Co after qualifying at York firm Corries.

Commercial property lawyer Helen Elrington leaves Irwin Mitchell for fellow Sheffield firm HLW.

Helen Cutting has left Newcastle firm Ward Hadaway to join the commercial property department at Sunderland firm Brian Mackenow.