Firm expands East Midlands corporate team
Full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has grown its East Midlands-based corporate team with a trio of hires.
Joining the firm as an associate in Leicester is Raksha Agarwal (pictured left). Solicitors Renee Freeman (pictured centre) and Aryaan Bassi (pictured right) will both be based in Nottingham.
Raksha qualified as a solicitor in 2020 at Clarke Willmott, where she worked for a decade, before joining Rothera Bray as an associate in 2023. In her new role, she will be assisting the corporate team on group re-organisations, corporate mergers, acquisitions and disposals.
Raksha said: ‘Joining Shakespeare Martineau was an easy decision for me—renowned for its strong corporate team and commitment to work-life balance, the firm stood out as the perfect fit. My primary goal here is to leverage my skills to further strengthen the team as much as I can and bolster the collective success of the firm as a whole.’
After completing her undergraduate law degree and LPC at Nottingham Trent University, Renee qualified in 2023 at Actons Solicitors. At Shakespeare Martineau, Renee will be helping clients navigate through the various stages of a corporate transaction.
Renee said: ‘I was attracted to Shakespeare Martineau because it is a forward-thinking national firm with a clear growth strategy, with responsible business values that align closely with my own. It is a privilege to be part of a firm that embraces diversity, encourages you to be yourself and empowers you to take responsibility for your own career development.’
Aryaan studied law at the University of Sheffield before completing a year abroad at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she was awarded the scholarship for excellence by the British Council. She then completed her LPC and masters in law, business and management at the University of Law before qualifying at DLA Piper.
In her new role, Aryaan will be supporting senior lawyers in corporate transactions and working collaboratively with other lawyers to deliver high-quality legal services to clients.
Aryaan said: ‘Shakespeare Martineau is a well-established firm with a strong reputation in the legal industry. I was drawn to the firm’s culture and values, which include a focus on being authentic and collaborative. I am hoping to enhance my legal skills and knowledge through hands-on experience.’
Lisa Botterill, corporate partner at Shakespeare Martineau, said: ‘There is a lot of opportunity in the corporate market across the whole of the Midlands and beyond. We are delighted to welcome Raksha, Renee and Aryaan to the team, which is part of our continuing commitment to having a strong corporate presence in the East Midlands and strengthens our offering in the region.’
