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Blacks Solicitors—round of promotions

13 February 2024
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Yorkshire firm promotes over 10% of its team

Yorkshire law firm Blacks Solicitors is marking the start of 2024 with the promotion of 21 team members across multiple specialist teams.

Seven teams across the firm have announced the promotion of colleagues: real estate, commercial dispute resolution, residential property, employment, IT, real estate litigation, and private wealth and succession.

Paul Sagar (real estate litigation) and Marcus Kaye (real estate) have both been promoted to partners, marking their continued dedication to the firm and its success. Paul has been instrumental in the team’s growth in the real estate sector, leading the way in his national telecoms specialism, acting exclusively for site providers.

Commenting on his promotion, Marcus Kaye said: ‘I’m dedicated to continuing to deliver highly valued and quality services in my new role. It’s been a pleasure to have helped develop our real estate specialism whilst being supported by the firm, focusing on real estate finance transactions.’

Anna Schiavetta (employment), Danielle Swainston (commercial dispute resolution) and Claire Cooper (residential property) have all been promoted to associate solicitor. Annie Beaumont (private wealth and succession), Samantha Simpson (residential property), Andrew Morgan (commercial dispute resolution), Yat Wong (commercial dispute resolution) and Ben Finley (real estate) have all been promoted to senior associate solicitor.

After joining the firm in 2022, Anna has shown continued dedication to the success of the firm and employment team. In 2023, she worked with barrister Rachel Senior of Kings Chambers to successfully represent a Direct Line employee in a discrimination case, which is believed to have been the highest award in the UK for a claim of disability discrimination relating to menopause.

Commenting on her promotion, Anna said: ‘I’m delighted that my commitment and dedication to the firm has been recognised. Over the last few years, I've had the opportunity to work with several leading specialists in the employment law sector and I'm excited for what 2024 and beyond will bring.’

Jack Parkinson, Will Ashton, Shamaila Mughalm, Faye Parkinson, Abbie Spence, Helen Carter, Eleanor Firth and Gulfraz Ahmed (residential property) and Andy Manns and Gavin Peer (IT) have all been promoted to non-qualified associates. Dawn Atkinson (residential property) has also been promoted to associate chartered legal executive.

Tom Moyes, training partner at Blacks Solicitors, said: ‘We remain fully committed to investing in our team and are delighted to have started off the new year by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of our colleagues. Their teamwork, collaboration and communication have been crucial in the continued success of the firm. It will be fantastic to see how they continue to progress throughout 2024 and beyond.’

Pictured above: The 21 promoted Blacks Solicitors team members

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quillon Law—Neil Dooley

Quillon Law—Neil Dooley

Disputes firm expands fraud and investigations practice with partner hire

Charles Russell Speechlys—Vadim Romanoff

Charles Russell Speechlys—Vadim Romanoff

Firm strengthens corporate tax and incentives team with partner hire

Burges Salmon—Gary Delderfield & Alec Bennett

Burges Salmon—Gary Delderfield & Alec Bennett

Partner and senior associate join pensions team

NEWS
Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has restated a fundamental truth, writes John Gould, chair of Russell-Cooke, in this week's NLJ: only authorised persons can conduct litigation. The decision sparked alarm, but Gould stresses it merely confirms the Legal Services Act 2007
The government’s decision to make the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the Single Professional Services Supervisor marks a watershed in the UK’s fight against money laundering, says Rebecca Hughes of Corker Binning in this week's NLJ. The FCA will now oversee 60,000 firms across legal and accountancy sectors—a massive expansion of remit that raises questions over resources and readiness 
The High Court's decision in Parfitt v Jones [2025] EWHC 1552 (Ch) provided a striking reminder of the need to instruct the right expert in retrospective capacity assessments, says Ann Stanyer of Wedlake Bell in NLJ this week
Paige Coulter of Quinn Emanuel reports on the UK’s first statutory definition of SLAPPs under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023in NLJ this week
NLJ columnist Stephen Gold dives into the quirks of civil practice, from the Court of Appeal’s fierce defence of form N510 to fresh reminders about compliance and interest claims, in this week's Civil Way
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