PRIVATE PRACTICE

Partners


Christopher Stonehill, Linklaters’ head of real estate in Asia, joins Denton Wilde Sapte in London.


International arbitration specialist Rajinder Bassi leaves Shearman & Sterling for the London office of US rival Kirkland & Ellis.


Stephenson Harwood has strengthened its banking and asset finance group with the hire of Christopher St John Smith from CMS Cameron McKenna. Tax specialist Maryanna Sharrock also joins the firm from accountancy giant Deloitte & Touche, where she was a tax director in the banking and capital markets group.


Media and entertainment firm Clintons has recruited corporate and sport specialist Malcolm Murray from The Simkins Partnership. Assistant Arif Mahmud moves with him.


Specialist immigration firm Laura Devine Solicitors promotes Sophie Barrett-Brown and Anastasia Tonello.


To the midlands, where Talbots in Stourbridge has hired Cheryl Leyser from George Green to head its commercial department.


Commercial property specialists David Hayes and Mary Anderson move to the Birmingham office of Clarke Willmott from the Coventry arm of US/UK firm Reed Smith.


North-west firm Brabners Chaffe Street has bolstered its litigation team in Manchester with the hire of Jeff Lewis. He was previously a partner at Kuit Steinart Levy.


Leeds firm Lee & Priestley promotes Damian Collinge in its corporate services department.



Management


London firm Bircham Dyson Bell has appointed Guy Vincent, the head of its company commercial team, as its managing partner until the end of May 2008. He replaces Michael Wood who is leaving to become a management consultant.



Associates/Assistants


Four new assistants for the planning and public law team at Denton Wilde Sapte: Sarah Youren joins from SJ Berwin and Caitlin Westgarth moves from Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques, while Simon Kelly and David Richardson join the team after qualification.


Thomas Eggar has three new assistants in its dispute resolution division: joining the London office are Michael Large and Michael Howard from Bowling & Co and US firm Dorsey & Whitney respectively, while Lloyd Junor, who was previously at Henmans in Oxford, moves to the Worthing office.


Commercial conveyancing solicitor Luciana Ispani rejoins Kent firm Pritchard Joyce & Hinds. She was previously at Surrey firm Morrisons.


Victoria Smyth and Simon Wade join the private client and commercial property departments respectively at Taylor Walton, after completing their training at the Luton-based firm.


Ashley Palminteri, previously a partner at London-based niche matrimonial firm Goodman Ray, joins Bristol firm Burges Salmon as an associate in the family team.


Family specialist Keith Bull has joined Pardoes in Bridgwater, Somerset, as a senior solicitor. He moves from Lovegrove & Elliott in Slough.


Mark Ferguson qualifies into the private client department at Rugby firm Brethertons.


Paul Dodds moves to the litigation department at Roythornes in Nottingham after qualifying with Fraser Brown.


Chester and Wrexham-based Walker Smith Way has taken on four assistants after they qualified at the firm: Thomas Pearson and Tom Sutcliffe (both in commercial), Katherine Tippetts (family) and Darren Hughes (personal injury).


Two new assistants for Stockport firm SASlawyers: Sarah Waugh, who was previously at Slater Heelis Collier Littler, joins the private client team, while Danny Fitzgerald moves to the litigation team from east Lancashire firm Haworth & Nuttall.


Nick Hodgson joins the Preston office of Brabners Chaffe Street as an assistant in the corporate department from Blackburn firm Forbes.


Employment specialist Emma Grace joins Milners in Leeds as an assistant from Gordons. Intellectual property specialist Rob Lucas also joins the firm as an assistant, moving from Hill Dickinson in Manchester.


Wakefield firm The Lister Croft Partnership promotes Olumide Jatto to associate in its commercial property and commercial law teams.