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27 May 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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WSP Solicitors—David Ashcroft & Jessica O’Shea

Commercial property and child law teams expand with senior hires

WSP Solicitors has strengthened its commercial property and child law practices with the appointments of senior associate David Ashcroft and associate solicitor Jessica O’Shea. The hires form part of the Gloucestershire firm’s strategic growth plans following increased demand for its commercial property and family law services.

Ashcroft joins the commercial team with more than 40 years’ experience in commercial property. His background includes advising on leases for a major Swedish household goods retailer, working on the privatisation of nationalised industries in Slovenia and Europe, and handling security and defence contracts.

O’Shea, a child panel accredited solicitor with 13 years’ experience, specialises in care proceedings and cases involving social services, kinship care, special guardianship and child arrangement orders. She said WSP Solicitors had ‘a clear direction for the future and a strong client focus’ and described joining the firm as ‘an opportunity I couldn’t pass up’.

Ashcroft said he was ‘keen to build on the team’s existing expertise’, while managing director Camella Cephas said both hires brought ‘a wealth of experience and specialist expertise’ that would further strengthen the firm’s teams.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Jean-François Le Gal

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Penningtons Manches Cooper strengthens international disputes team with appointment of leading arbitration partner

Shakespeare Martineau—Aaron Sanders & Kate Saunders

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Shakespeare Martineau strengthens trust and estates disputes team with new appointments

Bellevue Law—Shannon Moore

Bellevue Law—Shannon Moore

Bellevue Law strengthens employment disputes and international advisory capability with senior associate appointment

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