Society News

Tom Lawal and Terri Mason appointed as Deputy District Judges

Tom Lawal and Terri Mason have both been appointed to the Midland Circuit to sit in civil and family proceedings.

St Ives Chambers is delighted to announce that two members of Chambers have been appointed as Deputy District Judges in the latest round of judicial appointments.

Terri Mason

Tom Lawal

Head of Chambers, Elizabeth Isaacs KC said “I am absolutely thrilled to learn of the appointments of Tom and Terri. Their appointments are thoroughly well deserved and are a recognition of their hard work and dedication. I know that both will be a considerable asset to the judiciary and I wish them well as they embark on their judicial careers.”

Tom, who is a private law children and housing specialist, and Terri, who practises exclusively in children law, will both continue to practise in Chambers whilst carrying out their part-time judicial work.

10 top band rankings in Legal 500 for the West Midlands

Rebecca Leask

Harrison Clark Rickerbys (HCR) scooped 10 top band rankings for Birmingham and the West Midlands, following the release of the 2023 edition of the Legal 500 directory. This also includes three rising stars, four next generation partners and 10 leading individuals named.

The firm’s Family team has moved to the top spot in the region this year from band two for Birmingham, and it has maintained a band one ranking for the ‘elsewhere in the West Midlands’ region. Birmingham Family partner, Victoria Fellows is singled out as “a tough but pragmatic litigator”.

The rankings for Corporate and Commercial also see HCR in band 1 for elsewhere in the West Midlands, along with Commercial Litigation.

The Private Client team has also improved its ranking, moving up to band two for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, and maintained its band two ranking for Contentious Trusts and Probate. Also in band two is Finance (corporate recovery and insolvency).

The team at Medical Accident Group, part

of Harrison Clark Rickerbys, also features in band two for Insurance (personal injury and clinical negligence; claimant) in the West Midlands. They are highly praised for their empathy, care and “extensive medical knowledge”.

Head of Birmingham office, Rebecca Leask (pictured left) said: “These are fantastic results for our Birmingham and West Midlands teams and we thank our clients for their glowing testimonials”.

The firm maintained its band three rankings for Projects, Energy and Natural Resources (energy project finance and PFI) and Real Estate (construction).

Overall, HCR received rankings in 44 top bands – 12 in band one, 19 in band two and 13 in band three. 135 individual lawyers have been named in this year’s edition including 28 leading individuals, 13 next generation partners and 10 rising stars.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys commits to reduce carbon footprint

Phillip parkinson with Dominic Lavelle

Law firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys (HCR) has committed to remove carbon from their operations and activities to reach a net-zero position by 2040. Working with consultants, Go Green Experts, the firm has audited its emissions and outlined the steps it will take to reach its ambitious carbon reduction plan.

Philip Parkinson, Partner, said: “We recognise that our social responsibility extends to doing all we can to reduce our impact on the climate and protect the environment. Since commissioning the report we’ve made significant improvements but there is much work still to do. We’ll be working collaboratively with suppliers, employees, clients and stakeholders to make a difference to the communities we work and live in.”

Dominic Lavelle, Managing Director at Foregate Street based Go Green Experts said: “I’d like to congratulate HCR for setting their ambitious Net Zero target and committing to a robust plan to reduce their carbon emissions over time. We have worked closely with HCR over the past year - the seriousness and rigour with which they are taking on this challenge will set them in good stead as they look to transform their business activities over the coming years.”

St Ives Chambers ranked as leading set by Chambers & Partners 2023 guide

Following the outstanding reviews from the Legal 500 2023 edition earlier this month, we are pleased that St Ives Chambers has again been ranked as a leading set in the 2023 Chambers & Partners guide.

A total of 31 barristers are ranked across five different areas of practice. Chambers is ranked in Band 1 for Family: Children, Family: Matrimonial Finance, and Social Housing. We are also ranked in Crime and Real Estate Litigation.

The Family team is described as “a wellestablished and highly regarded family set” where the “clerks are excellent. They go above and beyond to provide a firstrate service to those instructing them”. Elizabeth Isaacs KC is ranked as a leading silk. In addition, 11 juniors are ranked. In the Matrimonial Finance team, four juniors are ranked.

The Band 1 Social Housing group boasts eight ranked barristers and “the set remains pre-eminent in this market”. The specialist clerking team is described as “excellent”.

Four juniors are ranked in the “impressive” Criminal group “noted for its expert handling of cases arising from the full range of criminal offences”. The clerks are described as “always helpful in resolving issues”. In addition, a further junior is ranked as a Band 1 junior in financial crime.

The Real Estate Litigation group is “a wellrespected” and “equipped to handle a range of complex property disputes”. Two juniors are ranked.

Head of Chambers, Elizabeth Isaacs KC, commented “We are very pleased with these excellent entries from the Chambers & Partners Guide, which builds upon the marvellous rankings we received from the Legal 500. They demonstrate the real depth of talent that is based in these Chambers and I am incredibly proud of our members and staff, who offer such an excellent service to our clients. Congratulations to all those who are ranked”.

Management board moves announced at mfg Solicitors

Law firm mfg Solicitors has announced a series of board level changes, including the appointment of a new managing director.

Andrew Davies

An expert in all property-related matters, Mr Davies has sat on the firm's board for five years as IT partner and its data protection officer. As part of his newly expanded role, he will move from mfg's Telford office to its headquarters in Kidderminster.

The boardroom moves will also see Suzanne Lee taking over the role of chair for the coming year. She will succeed widely respected solicitor and senior partner, Maynard Burton, who steps down from the board after acting as chairman for 17 years, and a management board member since the 1990s.

A well-known figure, especially across Kidderminster and the wider Wyre Forest, Mr Burton is credited as being one of the key architects in the firm’s success story. He will continue as a partner in the Kidderminster office serving the firm’s broad base of Commercial Property clients.

Andrew Davies said: "I will shortly be marking 20 years with mfg Solicitors so it's an extremely proud moment for me to take on the role of managing director and build on the success Suzanne and the rest of the board have delivered over the past decade.

Law firm mfg Solicitors has announced a series of board level changes, including the appointment of a new managing director.

The Worcestershire law firm, which has offices in Worcester, Kidderminster and Bromsgrove has appointed experienced conveyancing partner Andrew Davies to

"That success is also largely down to Maynard who for so many years has been a driving force, figurehead and inspiration to so many. The service and commitment he has given on the board and across the firm is immeasurable.

"Overall, we have grown in so many ways over recent years but I see my role as ensuring our employees understand our vision, what our next phase of growth looks like, and making sure they feel empowered to be the best.

"As a firm, we have coped tremendously with the past two years during the pandemic and see a wide number of growth opportunities locally, regionally and nationally. It's my expectation to continue that growth.

"More generally, it's an exciting time for us with the legal industry at the front and centre of so many matters commercially and for private individuals too. To play a leading role at a firm which has a first-class reputation across all sectors is something really special.”

St Ives Chambers ranked as leading set by the Legal 500 2023 edition

We are pleased to learn that St Ives Chambers has been ranked as a leading set by the legal directory the Legal 500 in its 2023 edition.

In total, 36 different members of Chambers have been ranked in five separate practice areas. Chambers has 38 rankings in total. St Ives is ranked as top tier set in family law (children and matrimonial finance) and social housing. Chambers is also recommended in business and regulatory crime, general crime and property and construction.

Chambers is described as a “consistently strong” set with “reliable and skilled barristers”.

The family law team is “an excellent team of family counsel” with “a high calibre of barristers” who are “a first call for family matters”. Elizabeth Isaacs KC is ranked as a leading silk. Fourteen juniors are ranked as leading juniors in child law in total: three at tier one, five at tier two and three at tier three. In addition, three juniors are ranked as rising stars.

Four members are ranked in divorce and financial remedy: three at tier one and one at tier two.

The tier one social housing team is

described as having “real in-depth expertise of housing law” and being “extremely knowledgeable in the area of social housing residential landlord and tenant disputes. It has strength and depth.” Four juniors are ranked at tier one and a further as a rising star.

The criminal team has a “pool of highly talented criminal practitioners” and has eight leading juniors ranked in total: three at tier one, three at tier two and two at tier three. The criminal team is also described as “one of genuine quality”. In addition, one further member is ranked as a tier one junior in business and regulatory crime.

Chambers’ property group is noted to be a “great team that offers diversity and strength” with an “excellent property team with a wide range of specialisms and experience”. Five juniors are ranked: two at tier one and three at tier two.

Head of Chambers, Elizabeth Isaacs KC, said “These are magnificent rankings for the whole of Chambers and really demonstrates the strength and quality that we offer as a set. To have so many of our members ranked in so many different practice areas is a testament to the hard work of our barristers and clerks.

I am particularly pleased to note that we have so many junior members of Chambers recognised as ‘rising stars’ by the directory. This shows that the training

we offer to our pupils and junior members brings about a real depth of quality in Chambers as a whole.

Congratulations to all those members of Chambers who are ranked”.

To view Chambers’ full rankings, please gop to: https://www.judiciary.uk/ appointments-and-retirements/ circuit-judge-appointment-picken/.

HCR’s family team ranks highly in Chambers and Partners 2023

l-r (top to bottom) Roopa Ahluwalia, Hayley McCormack, Victoria Fellows, Carolyn Green, James Grigg, Andrew Caldicott, Nadia Davis

HCR’s Family team has been ranked in band 1 for Cheltenham & surrounds and Hereford, Worcester & surrounds and in band 2 for Birmingham and surrounds in the new Chambers and Partners legal directory which launched today. Family law Partner, Roopa Ahluwalia is noted as ‘up and coming’ in Cambridge.

The team has seven lawyers ranked in total across the guide including Hayley McCormack and Victoria Fellows in Birmingham, Roopa in Cambridge, Carolyn Green and James Grigg in Cheltenham and Andrew Caldicott and Nadia Davis in Hereford and Worcester.

Clients say of the team: “It’s a very impressive, large team. They have a huge pool of talent.”

“The team has a broad knowledge and understanding of complex case”

"The group is always very efficient, professional and helpful."

"It is a strong family law team."

Whilst clients and peers praise individuals in the team for their ‘significant expertise’ and for ‘doing really good work.’

Overall lawyers across the firm achieved 38 individual rankings with 13 lawyers ranked in band 1, 11 in band 2, 11 in band 3 and 3 lawyers ranked in band 4 across 12 different practice areas including Family, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Corporate, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Education, Litigation, Clinical Negligence and R&I across 10 separate regions.

Marathon honour for Darryll!

Darryll Thomas

Employment law partner, Darryll Thomas of mfg’s Worcester office recently had the honour of representing England Masters in the annual representation race at the Chester marathon.

Darryll was selected for the M45-49 age category following his performance at the Milton Keynes marathon, one of four designated selection races, earlier in 2022. This was Darryll’s fourth marathon this year and thirteenth in total and he managed to complete the race in a time of 2 hours and 46 minutes, which was Darryll’s second fastest marathon time. Just seven days earlier Darryll had completed the Berlin marathon in a personal best time of 2 hours and 44 minutes.

Darryll who runs for Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletics Club, at peak training will run 70-80 miles per week and will now shift his attention to the Boston marathon next April where he hopes to try and run under 2 hours and 40 minutes. Good luck Darryll!

St Ives Chambers is delighted to announce James Picken’s appointment as a Circuit Judge

HH Judge Picken

We are delighted to announce that James Picken has been appointed as a Circuit Judge.

Head of Chambers, Elizabeth Isaacs KC, said “We are absolutely delighted to learn of His Honour Judge Picken’s appointment to the circuit bench. Our pleasure at his appointment has to also be marked with our sadness about losing a much-valued friend and colleague from chambers. He has been an integral part of these chambers for over sixteen years. We are grateful for all he has done for St Ives and we shall miss him terribly.”

His Honour Judge Picken was called to the bar in 2004 and joined St Ives Chambers in 2006. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2016 and has been head of the St Ives Chambers Private Law Team since 2020. The Lord Chief Justice has deployed His Honour Judge Picken to sit at Wolverhampton Combined Court effective from 17th October 2022.

To view the appointment, please go to: https://www.judiciary.uk/ appointments-and-retirements/ circuit-judge-appointment-picken/

CILEX Graduation for ambitious Chartered Legal Executive.

Zoe Sant

Zoe Sant, Redditch-based Silverback Law's Debt Recovery Team Leader, had cause to celebrate recently at her CILEX Graduation Ceremony held in the prestigious Central Hall Westminster, London.

The ceremony included speeches from CILEX President Matthew Huggett and HHJ Marc Dight CBE, both of which focused on the determination it takes to continue to work full-time whilst studying. They explained that those who have taken this vocational route often go on to progress further in their legal careers.

Zoe said “For me, it marked 4 years of hard work in gaining my Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice. It celebrated breaking down the barriers between the traditional route into law and the vocational route.”

Zoe has longed for this day for many years, as have all her supportive colleagues at Silverback Law. They’ve seen first-hand the hard work and dedication she's shown and are extremely proud to have watched her learn, grow and achieve.