A leading Gloucestershire law firm, Willans LLP, has announced five promotions across the firm in June.
Nick Southwell (dispute resolution), Jenny Hawrot (employment law & business immigration), Hannah Wall (wills, trusts & probate) and Rachel Sudgen (wills, trusts & probate) have been promoted to senior associates, and Laura Stone (wills, trusts & probate) is now an associate.
Nick Southwell is a senior lawyer in the firm’s dispute resolution and property litigation team and handles a wide variety of disputes for both commercial and private clients. He is recommended by national legal guide, Legal 500, which notes him as ‘...a first port of call in complex multi-party disputes.’
Since joining Willans in 2014 he has worked closely with partners Paul Gordon and Nick Cox, and in recent years, has taken the lead on cases for some of the team’s largest clients. Nick has particular expertise in property litigation, an area of work that continues to expand.
Jenny Hawrot is a key senior lawyer in the firm’s employment law & business immigration team, working alongside partner Matthew Clayton. She has an extensive track record in advising businesses ranging from SMEs to multi-national organisations, on the full range of employment-related matters – including TUPE, contractual issues, defending employment tribunal claims, and general employee relations and HR work.
She joined Willans five years ago from a firm in Kent and has established a reputation locally for both her expertise and approach. She is also recommended by national legal guide, Legal 500.
Hannah Wall joined Willans last year from a tier 1 UK private wealth firm but since arriving has excelled in her position supporting wills, trusts & probate partner Simon Cook and the wider team. She has an impressive wealth of expertise in advising both UK and non-UK residents and domiciled clients on their personal affairs including tax and succession planning, wills, trusts and lasting powers of attorney, and the administration of estates with a cross-border element.
Hannah is particularly passionate about the environment and sustainability and in 2019 helped reenergise the firm’s green committee which has made, and continues to make, many green-friendly improvements across the offices.
Rachel Sugden is a senior lawyer in the wills, trusts & probate team who joined Willans in 2017 from a Worcestershire firm. She helps clients with complex estate and tax planning, lifetime trusts and the administration of estates.
Rachel has played a key part in developing a close working relationship with the firm’s business lawyers, assisting their clients, often business owners, from start-ups through to established companies, safeguard their business interests and build a legacy which can be passed on to the next generation in the most tax-efficient way.
Laura Stone has been promoted from solicitor to associate in the firm’s wills, trusts & probate team. She joined Willans in late 2018 from a South West firm and has made an impression with her commitment to her work. She advises individuals on all aspects of lifetime estate planning, including the preparation of wills, inheritance tax and the creation of trusts. She handles powers of attorney, Court of Protection matters and the administration of estates and trusts. She works closely with the firm’s dispute resolution team in respect of complex estate, trust and other inheritance dispute matters.
Laura is the face behind many of the firm’s coffee mornings and is also a key member of the firm’s charity committee which supported Maggie’s Cheltenham with fundraising efforts over the past year.
Bridget Redmond, managing partner, commenting on the promotions said:
“The expertise and calibre of our people working at Willans is one of our firm’s greatest assets and I’m delighted to recognise the talent of these individuals who have demonstrated their drive and commitment to their clients and their colleagues. I look forward to seeing them thrive in their new positions.”