Napthens has strengthened its family law capability with the appointment of Amy Harris as partner in the firm’s Manchester office.
Harris (pictured above left) has significant experience advising clients on divorce, financial settlements and relationship breakdown. Prior to joining Napthens, she spent seven years at Brabners, where she was a legal director in the family team.
She is particularly recognised for her expertise in complex financial matters involving business owners, international assets, pensions and trusts.
A member of Resolution and a qualified Mental Health First Aider, Harris says she is committed to helping clients resolve family matters constructively and with the support they need throughout the process.
Helen Lucking, partner and head of family at Napthens (pictured above right) said: “We are delighted to welcome Amy to Napthens. She is highly regarded in the family law market and brings considerable experience advising clients on complex and sensitive matters.
“Amy’s appointment further strengthens our family offering in Manchester and reflects our continued investment in building a strong team of talented lawyers across the north west.”
Cumbria law firm Thomson Hayton Winkley (THW) has bolstered its ranks with the appointment of family solicitor Jordan Wallace (right). 
He joins from Laker Legal Solicitors in Lancaster and is based at THW’s head office in Kendal. Wallace advises clients on a range of matters including divorce, finances, domestic abuse, issues relating to children, nuptial agreements, cohabitation and separation agreements, and Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act cases.
“THW has a strong reputation for providing legal services with a caring, understanding and client-first approach”, Wallace said. “When it comes to family law, these are essential.
“Joining the firm was too good an opportunity to pass up. The firm is well established and respected in the area, and its values align well with mine.
“I look forward to playing a major part in the development of the family department, supporting clients as they go through what can be some of the most difficult times of their lives.”
In addition to its headquarters in Kendal, the 55-strong firm has offices in Windermere and the J36 Rural Auction Centre in Crooklands, which is home to its specialist branch, The Rural Law Practice.
National law firm Simpson Millar has expanded its specialist Education and Children’s Rights team with three new appointments.
Victoria Kerr joins the team as a solicitor, while Ian McAweeney and Libby Wright have been appointed as paralegals.
Kerr, based in the London office, advises families on all aspects of education law. She joins the team with more than 20 years’ post-qualification experience, having previously practised in commercial property law.
McAweeney and Wright will support the firm’s Education and Children’s Rights team across a broad range of matters, from the London and Leeds offices respectively.
Polly Kerr, partner and head of education and children’s rights, said of the new recruits: “We’re delighted to welcome Victoria, Ian, and Libby to our growing national Education and Children’s Rights team.
“Education law is a rapidly evolving area, and we’re seeing increasing demand from families across the country who need specialist advice to navigate an increasingly complex system. It’s important that we continue investing in talented people who not only bring valuable experience but also share our commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.”
Sydney Mitchell has appointed Suzanne El-Safty as a solicitor in its family team.
El-Safty’s has experience in complex, high net worth financial cases as a solicitor at firms including Mills & Reeve LLP, Penny Ravy & Co, Lodders Solicitors and most recently HCR Law.
She will work alongside the team’s joint heads and partners Karen Moores and Mauro Vinti, as well as family law partner Gemma Whitchurch.
Prior to entering the legal profession, El-Safty spent seven years in investment banking, first at Merrill Lynch International in London, where she was vice president of Structured Solutions, and then as portfolio manager at Unigestion in Geneva, Switzerland.
On joining Sydney Mitchell, El-Safty said: “The new role of family law solicitor within the high ranking family law team at Sydney Mitchell marks a significant professional move for me. It presents the chance to be involved in the firm’s wide range of family law cases, an opportunity to work with a number of highly respected family law practitioners, and work for a well-established and progressive firm.
“The opportunity to be part of such an experienced, respected and friendly team is exciting, and I am relishing the chance to further enhance my hands-on family law experience working on a broad range of family law matters.”
Lawson West’s Lubna Ahmad has obtained her Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (England and Wales), and is now a fully re-qualified solicitor in the firm’s Family Law team.
Before bringing up her family in Leicester, Lubna was formerly a qualified solicitor in the Commercial Asset Finance & Litigation department of Gateley Legal, and a legal executive at Shoosmiths Solicitors in Northampton.
While taking time out to bring up her family, Ahmad studied and completed various courses to broaden her knowledge base.
Ahmad said: “After taking a 9-year career break to raise my family, I am delighted to now be fully retrained into family law, an area of law I really empathise with. I enjoy dedicating my time to helping others who face difficult or emotional relationship or child law issues.”
Shackleton Advisers Limited has appointed Pode Services founder Simon Ricca to enhance the firm’s offering of pension-related matters both during and after divorce.
Ricca will be accompanied by his team in the move, including trainee actuary Sarah French, pensions analyst Jacques Basson and specialist administrator Danielle Levy.
Ricca said: “The team and I are thrilled to be joining Shackleton, whose distinctive values resonate strongly with everything we have long held dear. Being part of such a high quality, rapidly growing firm will enable us not only to continue to provide the expert guidance for which we have become well known to clients and their lawyers, but also to expand the range of services we are able to offer, especially following the conclusion of divorce proceedings.”
All new instructions will be handled by the expanded Shackleton PODE team.
