Ashfords announces promotions

Wednesday 10th June 2009 Ashfords LLP, one of the UK's leading full service law firms, has announced five promotions to Partner, six promotions to Associate and the unanimous re-election of Ian Daniells to the post of Chief Executive.

The partner promotions take the total number of partners at the firm to 64.

The promotions which have been made across the partnership, in recognition of continuing development and contribution to the practice, are:

Promotion to Partner:

• Patrick Blake - Construction - Exeter
• Annelie Carver (nee Joyce) - Corporate - Exeter
• Rachael Crocker - Trusts & Estates - Tiverton
• Katriona Lovelock - Property Litigation - Taunton
• Jamie Horner - Commercial Litigation – Exeter

Promotion from Solicitor to Associate:

• Rebecca Dury - Corporate - Exeter
• Chris Dyson - Corporate - Bristol
• Andrew Pay - Restructuring & Insolvency - Exeter
• Stephen Young - Restructuring & Insolvency - Bristol
• Victoria Saunders - Residential - Exeter
• Andrew Yendole - Employment – Exeter

Patrick Blake trained with Ashfords and has extensive experience in development and other projects. He is widely experienced in the resolution of construction disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods (ADR), particularly adjudication and mediation, as well as litigation.

Annelie Carver trained with Ashfords and has particular expertise in corporate transactional work. She spent a year at Bond Pearce before rejoining Ashfords in 2008. Annelie is coordinator of the firm's Sport and Leisure sector group.

Rachael Crocker joined Ashfords in 2001 having trained at Clarke Willmott & Clarke (now Clarke Willmott). She is a Partner in the Private Client team based in Tiverton, specialising in wills, probate, trusts and estate planning.

Katriona Lovelock trained at Ashfords and is a partner in the Property Litigation team. She has recently moved to the firm's Taunton office to broaden the commercial property offering, enabling a full service provision at that office.

Jamie Horner trained in London and joined Ashfords in 2005. He is a commercial litigator specialising in sport. Jamie leads the firm's Motorsport Team, which delivers a specialist all encompassing service to motorsport clients.

Commenting on the new promotions, Ian Daniells, Chief Executive, said:

"It gives me great pleasure to announce these promotions. In a year which has proved to be one of the hardest in memory it is gratifying to be able to reward many of those who have contributed so much to the ongoing success of the practice."

In addition to the internal promotions, Ashfords has been able to make strategic appointments, hiring key staff from competitors. In the last year the following lateral Partner hires have been made:

Andrew Baines joins the Property Litigation team in Bristol from Burges Salmon.

Clare Brewer joins the Projects/PFI in Exeter from Norton Rose in London.

Andrew Dodd joins the Family Law practice in Tiverton from Tozers.

Jonathan Hadley-Piggin joins the Marine practice in Exeter from Shoosmiths in Southampton.

Reflecting on the current year, Mr Daniells added:

"Ashfords is a full service law firm with a reputation for excellence across all of its divisions. Our specialist teams represent clients locally, nationally and internationally at the highest level.

"It is this diversity and client commitment that will see the practice go from strength to strength. We look forward to a positive 2009."


For further information please contact Tom Cooper at Winningtons on 0797 122 1972.