Leading full-service legal firm Woodfines, has announced eight senior promotions within its Property, Private Client, Commercial and Regulatory and Dispute Resolution departments.
The promotions, effective as of 1st April 2022, include two new members of the LLP, four new partners and two senior associates.
Accepting the promotion to partner are Hannah Johnson, Claire Spencer, Nathan Taylor-Allkins and James Wilkinson.
After joining Woodfines in 2012 to begin her training contract, Hannah qualified as a solicitor in 2014. She specialises in probate, will and inheritance disputes in respect to which she is now accredited and receives repeat referrals from other Bedford-based non-contentious solicitors and professionals. She also deals with personal injury claims. She enjoys and excels in helping people through stressful life events. She prides herself on putting the law into plain language and focusing on alternative dispute resolution wherever possible.
Claire specialises in commercial and property litigation having over 17 years’ legal experience in both the UK and New Zealand. Upon qualification, Claire specialised in property litigation at a national law firm, before relocating to New Zealand in 2006 where she qualified as a solicitor and barrister and practiced in commercial litigation and contentious insolvency. In 2016, Claire joined Woodfines as a solicitor following her relocation back to the UK and was promoted to senior associate in 2019. Claire prides herself on her client focus and approachability whilst working with clients to resolve their disputes as soon as possible. Her efficient and pragmatic approach to complex contentious matters has resulted in Claire’s provision of ongoing litigation support to her many longstanding clients.
Nathan joined Woodfines as a trainee solicitor in 2013 and qualified into the Crime and Regulatory department in 2015. He has a broad criminal defence practice and represents individuals and businesses in the police station, Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court on matters ranging from motoring cases to grave crimes, including complex frauds and homicide. Nathan also advises on specialist regulatory matters including transport and cases brought by the HSE, Environment Agency, FCA, Office of Road and Rail, Insolvency Service and Local Councils (planning and licensing).
James, an experienced corporate and commercial solicitor, joined Woodfines in 2021. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, shareholders’ arrangements and preparing businesses for major capital events. James is an ardent environmentalist with a significant number of clients in the sustainable space, ranging from energy suppliers to battery storage sites and EV infrastructure businesses and he is leading the way in reducing Woodfines’ carbon footprint.
Becoming members of the LLP are Suzanna Stephenson, Head of the firm’s Property Department and Mikhala Leak, who will also progress to the Head of the Private Clients Department. Zara Bracegirdle and Helen Simpson, both of the Private Client Department, are promoted to senior associate.
Managing Partner, Neil Gibbs said:
“At Woodfines we pride ourselves in identifying and developing gifted individuals by rewarding outstanding performance and personal growth with well-earned promotions.
All eight bring experience, positivity and enthusiasm to their work and the firm, and I personally look forward to seeing how they continue to grow and being involved in the success of the wider firm. The promotion round this year is testimony to our strategy of developing talent internally and blending that with experience gained outside of the firm across the legal sector.”
You can read more about Woodfines and its services on www.woodfines.co.uk
