Simpson Millar—17 promotions

National law firm Simpson Millar has named a total of 17 people as part of its latest promotions round, including three to partner, and 14 to senior associate and associate roles.

The three new partners are industrial disease law expert Anthony Waddington (pictured), injury practice area head of operations, Gemma Bielby, and legal costs expert, Steve Jones.

There are seven senior associate promotions and a further seven associate promotions from across the firm’s business support service teams, including learning and development, and finance, and its three core practice areas which includes public, injury and family.

Commenting on the announcement Simpson Millar’s CEO, Greg Cox, said: 'Seeing our colleagues at Simpson Millar progress and reach their potential is really important. We will always support the development and progression of our people, and I would like to congratulate everyone who has been successful this year.

'It is thoroughly deserved, and I am looking forward already to the 2023 promotions round.'

Public law once again featured heavily in the latest round of promotions, with experienced education lawyers Lidia Foster, Nicola Duff and Verity Altaras all being promoted to senior associate, alongside Hannah Morris in the care homes team.

Ian Clifton and Kelly Withers from the firm’s clinical negligence team were also promoted to senior associate, as did costs drafter Matt McGuire from CC Law.

Claire Macmaster and Sean Harrison from Simpson Millar’s public law and human rights team, alongside education lawyer Lucy Atherton, Aimee Brackfield from the inquests team, and specialist employer and public liability lawyer Eleanor Walker were promoted to associate.

They were also joined by Dawn Hodge from the learning and development team, and Maleehah Afzal from finance.

The promotions span across Simpson Millar’s offices.

Earlier this year Simpson Millar announced that it had launched a firm-wide transformation programme which includes significant improvements to its current systems and processes that will enhance the client journey and allow its legal teams to focus on case work and customer care.

As part of this activity, the firm has invested heavily in its call centre and its marketing. It is also introducing automated processes that will reduce the administrative burden of the legal work.

Greg added: 'We have a big year ahead of us as we look to roll out the changes that form part of our transformation programme.

'As a firm, we’re not afraid to challenge the way that we deliver legal services to better meet the needs of our clients, and the expectations of our colleagues. Those who have been newly promoted across the business will be at the forefront of driving and embedding those changes.'

Simpson Millar is recognised in the Legal 500 directory as a ‘hugely well regarded firm’, with acknowledgment of its legal work. The firm is currently recruiting for a number of roles, including a family head of department.