New partners have been appointed by Dawson Cornwell, Kingsley Napley and Wedlake Bell, each with extensive experience in specialist areas.
Dawson Cornwell has announced the appointment of Russell Bywater (main photo, right) as management partner, succeeding Stephen Harker. Bywater will continue his client practice alongside his new role, having previously headed the firm’s matrimonial department.
Bywater advises on high-value and complex financial remedy proceedings, often involving international elements, trusts, businesses and significant non-matrimonial assets. He is ranked in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 and is known for his strategic, measured approach to litigation, particularly in cases involving international trusts.
As managing partner, Bywater will focus on the firm’s long-term strategy, development and continued growth, while maintaining his client practice.
“It is a privilege to take on the role of managing partner at Dawson Cornwell,” Bywater said.
“I have big boots to fill and want to extend our thanks to Stephen for his time in this role which has been carried out in an exemplary fashion. The firm has a long-standing reputation for excellence in family law, and I look forward to building on that legacy while supporting our talented team of lawyers in delivering the highest standard of service to our clients.”
Also at Dawson Cornwell, Charlotte Conner (main photo, left) has been appointed as the firm’s new head of the matrimonial department, taking over leadership of the department from Bywater.
Conner, who is ranked as a Leading Individual in Chambers and a Next Generation Partner in The Legal 500, advises on all aspects of relationship breakdown, including divorce, cohabitation disputes, financial remedy proceedings and child arrangements. She has a particular expertise in applications for financial provision of children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
“I am delighted to be leading the matrimonial department,” Conner said. “We are entrusted with some of the most significant and sensitive matters in our clients’ lives, and I am proud to work alongside such an experienced and dedicated team.”
Dawson Cornwell is ranked Band 1 in Chambers & Partners and Tier 1 for family law in The Legal 500. The firm is recognised internationally for its work across complex matrimonial finance and children law and regularly acts in cases with cross-border and multi-jurisdictional elements.
At Kingsley Napley, Silvia Devecchi has joined as partner in the family and divorce practice to provide specialist advice to Italian and international clients.
Devecchi, who joins from Mishcon de Reya, advises on all aspects of family law and has particular expertise in complex, high‑value disputes involving international families. Her practice spans both children and financial matters, including cases involving jurisdictional challenges, non‑disclosure, and the valuation and division of business interests.
She has significant experience navigating the implications of corporate structures and trusts in matrimonial proceedings and frequently acts in disputes involving assets across multiple jurisdictions.
A native Italian speaker and proficient in Spanish and French, Devecchi has a strong track record of navigating the interplay between English law and foreign legal systems.
She is a Recommended Family Lawyer in Spears’ 500 and has been ranked as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 since 2021. She is a member of Resolution and the British Italian Law Association.
Devecchi said of her new role:
“I am thrilled to be joining the highly respected Kingsley Napley family team with a focus on supporting international families especially those with European connections and interests. Post-Brexit, cross-border disputes involving European parties and assets can be trickier to navigate so it is important to be familiar with the challenges involved and have experience of achieving constructive solutions for clients and their families.”
Wedlake Bell has strengthened its family offering, with the appointment of Rebecca Christie (pictured right) as partner.
Christie, who joins the firm from Fladgate, has experience in all areas of family law, and has acted for a wide variety of clients both internationally and throughout the UK, but especially cases that require substantial client care.
Her practice spans financial remedies, private children law, and modern families work, alongside specialist expertise in cases involving domestic abuse and trauma‑related issues.
A long‑standing contributor to national policy level work in this area, she was appointed to Resolution’s Domestic Abuse Committee in 2022, and elected co‑chair in 2024. Last year, Christie also developed and implemented Fladgate’s policy supporting employees navigating relationship breakdowns. The policy provided education on the legal implications of separation and addressed workplace responses to domestic abuse.
In addition to her family law practice, Christie has a well‑established reputation in art and cultural property law. She advises private clients on both contentious and non‑contentious matters including attribution, provenance, authenticity, title, and the handling of unlawfully trafficked cultural goods.
“I am really pleased to join the team at Wedlake Bell at such an exciting point in the firm’s growth,” Christie said.
“This felt like a natural step for me with the firm’s combination of its long‑standing reputation for exceptional client service and expertise across both family and art and luxury work creates a unique platform for clients facing complex and often deeply personal challenges.”
