Private Practice
Partners


The most high-profile move of the week sees Gregor Grant, head of intellectual property in the London office of Wragge & Co, move to Marks & Clerk Solicitors, the associated law firm of patent and trade mark attorneys Marks & Clerk.


All change at the top at City firm Lewis Silkin, which has elected intellectual property specialist Ian Jeffery as its new managing partner. Senior partner Roger Alexander takes up the new post of chairman, while former managing partner Trevor Watkins returns to the corporate/commercial team on a full-time basis.


> Elsewhere in London, Forsters has strengthened its private client team with the hire of partner Carole Cook and consultant Eliza Mellor, who were previously at Nicholson Graham & Jones (now Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham).

Sharon McCann: Bevan Brittan appointment

Two new property partners for Manches: Graham Atkins joins from Davenport Lyons, where he was a former head of property, while property litigation specialist Neil Benson moves from Howard Kennedy.

In Kent, Jonathan Winskill joins the commercial property team at Vizards Wyeth in Dartford as a partner from Pritchard Joyce & Hinds in Beckenham.


Surrey firm Sheridans has recruited Dan Thompson as partner and head of the commercial property department in its Chertsey office. He moves from London firm Davenport Lyons.


Three new partners for Henley-on-Thames firm Mercers: Peter Hopkins (private client) and Adam Marshall (litigation) are promoted, while residential conveyancing specialist Simon Berry moves from Hedges in Wallingford.


Trethowans has promoted two to partner: personal injury specialist David Healy in the Salisbury office and Simon Rhodes, head of the employment team in Southampton.


To Wales, where commercial property specialist Penny Cranston has joined the Cardiff office of Hugh James. She was previously at Capital Law in Cardiff.



Trethowans' promotions: Simon Rhodes and David Healy

In Birmingham, Bevan Brittan has hired Sharon McCann, previously at the local office of national firm Hammonds, to launch a dedicated licensing practice. She is joined by associate Rob Westwood-Payne, former head of licensing at Stoke-on-Trent firm Heatons.

Manchester firm James Chapman & Co has appointed three new partners: Simon Cohen (sports law), Lydia Edgar (employment) and Matthew Dobson (property).


In Newcastle, Paul Earnshaw has joined Crutes’ business services department from Dickinson Dees.


Associates/Assistants

The London office of US firm Coudert Brothers has hired Alexandra Caminer as a senior associate in its corporate team; she joins from the London office of US firm White & Case.




James Gopsill: joins Gateley Wareing

Employment specialist Nathan Donaldson has joined KSB Law in the City as a senior associate; he was previously at the London office of Levenes. KSB Law has also promoted Naomi Bull to associate in the employment team.

Assistant solicitor Virginia Jones joins the commercial litigation team at Marriott Harrison from the London office of national firm Pinsent Masons.


Moving west, two new assistants in the personal injury team at Everatt & Co in Worcester: Elmira Adams joins from Davies Lavery in Birmingham, while Tim Rice has moved from Birmingham-based Eaton Ryan & Taylor.



Divorce and Family Law Practice: Amanda Holland and Victoria Green appointed by Birmingham firm

In Wales, Mark Ellis-Jones joins the property litigation team in the Cardiff office of Edwards Geldard. He was previously at Hugh James.

In Northampton, assistant solicitor Ruth Finney joins Hewitsons’ corporate team from Fennemores in Milton Keynes.


To Stratford-upon-Avon, where assistant solicitor Donna Bates has joined the commercial property team at Needham & James from Banbury-based Brethertons.


Tax specialist James Gopsill has joined the Birmingham office of Gateley Wareing as a senior associate; he moves from the local practice of City firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary.


Birmingham-based Divorce and Family Law Practice has recruited two new assistants for its family team: Victoria Green from national firm Irwin Mitchell and Amanda Holland from local firm Blair Allison.


Moving north, corporate finance assistant Saad Ahmed moves to the Manchester office of Hill Dickinson from Weightmans.


Yorkshire firm Schofield Sweeney has two new assistants: James Austin, previously at Stamp Jackson & Procter in Hull, joins the employment team in Leeds, while Andrew Gillett moves to the private finance initiative team in Bradford from Eversheds in Leeds.


In Newcastle, assistant solicitor Rowan Ferguson leaves Eversheds to join Dickinson Dees
as head of education.