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16 April 2025
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Freeths—81 appointments

Firm bolsters team with significant promotions across various departments

Leading law firm Freeths has announced 81 promotions for 2025, including nine new partners. The firm is committed to inclusivity, with 50% of those promoted being women. Karl Jansen, national managing partner (pictured), commented: 'I’m delighted to announce the promotions of over 80 of our most talented people.'

In Nottingham, Jade Flint and Rachel Gaffney have been promoted for their exceptional work in commercial dispute resolution and private client dispute resolution, respectively. In Milton Keynes, corporate lawyer Natalie Drought and tax expert Matthew Switzer have advanced their roles. Mohammed Abbas in Birmingham has been recognised for his success in M&A work.

Matthew Kelly in Manchester has been acknowledged for his leadership in restructuring and insolvency. In Oxford, Lisa Mark-Bell has been promoted for her work with high-net-worth clients. Sheffield's Toby Pochron and Ciaran Dearden have been elevated for their reputations in employment and commercial dispute resolution.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
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