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01 April 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Devonshires—four promotions

Firm promotes four senior associates to partner in annual round

Devonshires has promoted four senior associates to partner, taking its total partner count to 68. The promotions include Rachel Jones, William O’Brien and Yaasica Hamilton-Haye in the construction team, alongside Hannah Keane in housing management & property litigation.

All four have developed their careers at the firm, with several having trained there. Jones joined as a paralegal in 2013 before qualifying, while O’Brien joined in 2017 from local government. Hamilton-Haye and Keane have also built strong practices advising on complex matters within their respective teams.

The promotions come amid a period of sustained growth for the firm, including the recent relocation of its Birmingham office to new premises. The move supports its continued expansion and client work across the Midlands and beyond.

Senior partner Mark London said: ‘I’m very pleased to welcome Rachel, William, Yaasica and Hannah to the partnership,’ adding that ‘their progression speaks to the strength of our teams and the confidence we have in the next generation of the firm’.

Image caption (clockwise from top left): Rachel Jones, Hannah Keane, Yaasica Hamilton-Haye and William O’Brien.

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Devonshires—four promotions

Devonshires—four promotions

Firm promotes four senior associates to partner in annual round

Fieldfisher—John McElroy & Daniel Hayward

Fieldfisher—John McElroy & Daniel Hayward

Co-heads of dispute resolution practice appointed alongside partner promotions

NEWS

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Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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