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29 January 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Freeths has strengthened its national real estate team with the appointment of partner Ruth Clare in Manchester. She joins the firm from Shoosmiths, bringing more than 20 years’ experience advising retail occupier and corporate clients.

Clare trained at Mayer Brown in London before spending a decade at Eversheds following her move to Manchester. She specialises in the expansion, disposal and management of property portfolios, and is known for building close, long-term client relationships and working as an extension of her clients’ businesses.

With a strong market reputation and deep sector knowledge, Clare brings a number of household-name clients to Freeths. She will work with colleagues in Manchester and across the firm’s national platform to enhance its offering to corporate occupiers entering and operating in the UK market.

Darren Williamson, partner and national head of real estate, said Clare is ‘a highly respected lawyer with an exceptional track record’, adding that her ‘experience, commercial insight and collaborative approach’ make her ‘an outstanding addition’. Clare said joining Freeths felt ‘like the next natural step’, citing the firm’s ‘strong national platform’ and ‘culture of fostering collaboration’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Newcastle & North of England Law Society—Lesley Fairclough

Newcastle & North of England Law Society—Lesley Fairclough

Ward Hadaway partner becomes bicentennial president following regional merger

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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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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