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27 August 2025
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Downs Solicitors—Kate Matthews

Surrey firm strengthens franchise offering with consultant hire

Downs Solicitors has enhanced its franchise services with the appointment of Kate Matthews as consultant solicitor at its Reigate office. A recognised name in the sector, Kate now chairs the firm’s franchising service, bringing her extensive experience to lead cross-departmental support across Downs’ four offices.

Kate is highly regarded in Worldwide Who’s Who Franchising and has been consistently ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers for her work in franchising law. She joined Downs in 2024 and now spearheads the firm’s efforts to offer comprehensive legal support to franchise businesses.

‘Franchising covers a multitude of legal disciplines which makes it a diverse and exciting arena in which to offer legal services,’ said Kate. ‘It’s great that Downs is strengthening its cross-practice team to provide a comprehensive franchise service to its clients.’

With a focus on risk management, transactions, mediation and litigation, Kate and the Downs team aim to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for franchise clients or allow them to ‘cherry pick the immediate specialist service’ they need.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Firm strengthens global fund finance practice with London partner hire.

DWF—Stephen Webb

DWF—Stephen Webb

Partner and head of national planning team appointed

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

Corporate team expands in Birmingham with partner hire

NEWS
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The Supreme Court has restored ‘doctrinal coherence’ to unfair prejudice litigation, writes Natalie Quinlivan, partner at Fieldfisher LLP, in this week' NLJ
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts
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