Private practice

Partners

The London office of US firm Cleary Gottlieb starts this week's round-up with a hire from magic circle firm Linklaters: finance partner Simon Ovenden.

Vinay Ganga, who is dual-qualified in England and Wales, and India, as well as qualified as both a solicitor and barrister, moves to US/UK firm Reed Smith in London as a partner, from One Essex Court chambers.

Three partner hires for Beachcroft Wansbroughs: in London, Monica Blake (commercial property) joins from Mishcon de Reya; in Bristol, Frank Morton (employment) moves from Osborne Clarke and in Manchester, Leila Porter (corporate finance) joins from Eversheds.

Eilzabeth Jones is to leave TG Baynes in Bexleyheath to become a salaried family partner at south London firm Fisher Meredith.

Leaving the City, and specifically Herbert Smith, is projects and construction partner Robert Meakin, who joins Reigate firm Shadbolt & Co.

Four associates become partners at south-east firm ASB Law: head of financial regulatory Richard Mumford and employment specialist Andy Knorpel (Crawley), and tax and trusts solicitor Glen Miles and residential property specialist Philip Ryder (Maidstone).

It now has 45 partners.

Clinical negligence specialist Jonathan Green is promoted to partner at Foot Anstey Sargent in Exeter.

In Norfolk, Rogers & Norton has made up commercial property specialist Robert Pyke.

Another City exile is commercial partner Rhys Lewis, who has joined Harvey Ingram Owston in Leicester from City firm Richards Butler.

Housing, community care and social welfare specialist Richard Copson is promoted to partner at Glaisyers in Manchester - its 11th partner.

Across the Channel, private equity specialist Michel Frieh has joined Linklaters' Paris office from US firm Wilkie Farr & Gallagher.

Private practice Associates/assistants

Six new solicitors for Fisher Meredith in south London: Paul Brill (head of employment) from Carter Bells in Kingston; Janet Broadley (family) from Hyde Mahon Bridges; Julie Cornes (public law) from Bindman & Partners; Jamima Sterling (children law) from Galbraith Branley; Rakesh Singh (immigration); and Ananda Hall (children law), who currently works in the chambers of the president of the Family Division.

In the City, Hammonds hires senior pensions solicitor Clifford Sims from Baker & McKenzie, where he was a senior associate.

Assistant solicitor Jonathan Heskia has left City firm Lovells for niche central London entertainment practice Jayes & Page.

Residential assistant solicitor Kathryn Drew joins Gardner Leader in Berkshire after a career break.

She previously worked in the City.

Four are promoted to associate at Foot Anstey Sargent in the south-west:

Kelvin Farmaner (commercial litigation); Eoin Fowell (employment); Alastair Hargreaves (commercial property), and Yvette Rooke (childcare and family).

Insurance and personal injury litigator Craig Wallace joins Browne Jacobson in Nottingham as an assistant solicitor from an in-house role at local insurance brokers Retford Cooke & Mason.

In Manchester, residential conveyancing assistant solicitor Catherine Carysforth joins George Davies from Lyons Wilson.

Others

Charlotte Rodgers has been promoted to special counsel in US firm Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft's City project finance team.

Warners in Kent has named solicitor Richard Ireland, formerly at Park Nelson, as practice director.

Corrections

We would like to clarify that Jonathan Ebsworth did not join Bates Wells & Braithwaite directly from Reid Minty (see [2004] Gazette, 13 May, 40).

He left in May 2003, and spent four months working on a project with accountants Kingston Smith before joining Bates Wells.

His recruitment was unconnected with that of Martin Gunson.

Paul McDermott has not become a partner at Nabarro Nathanson, as stated previously (see [2004] Gazette, 7 May, 42).