Taylor Wessing announces eight promotions in the UK, including three to partnership

Taylor Wessing today announces eight promotions in the UK, with three of its lawyers appointed to partnership* and five to the position of Senior Counsel. All promotions will take effect from 1 May 2018.

Commenting on the promotions, Managing Partner Tim Eyles said:

"As we've been through our promotions process this year, it's been inspiring to hear the creative ideas each of these individuals has for the future of our business. Their original thinking and willingness always to challenge and be challenged are qualities we value just as highly as their technical skill and client relationships – and indeed which we think add to the latter. In a time of such transformation for the legal sector, I congratulate warmly all who have been promoted and look forward to seeing what they bring to our clients and our people in the future."

The new partners are:

Katie Chandler – Disputes & Investigations

Katie joined Taylor Wessing in 2005 as a trainee. She acts for clients in multijurisdictional litigation on high-value commercial disputes, particularly those in the Consumer & retail, technology, and life sciences sectors. Katie is regularly instructed on the most complex issues affecting businesses in these sectors, from product liability and safety, to issues with emerging technologies such as connected and automated vehicles and the IoT, to fraud and corporate governance matters including shareholder and boardroom disputes. She has also significant experience acting on product compliance regulatory investigations and recalls.

Lerika Joubert – Banking & Finance

Lerika joined the firm’s finance group in 2013 from Slaughter and May. She has a broad range of experience advising major financial institutions and corporates on a wide variety of banking and financing work, including general corporate finance, leveraged and acquisition finance, derivatives, debt capital markets and securitisation. As a multi-specialist with a specific focus on leveraged and acquisition finance and general corporate finance, Lerika also works closely with the firm's corporate teams advising our clients on some of the most complex and bespoke deals. Being dual qualified in South Africa, Lerika has been actively involved with the firm's African initiative and is one of the leading members of our Africa Group.

Edward Story – Corporate

Edward joined the firm in 2006 as a trainee. He has extensive experience of acting for privately held companies and High Net Worth individuals, families and entrepreneurs on a wide variety of corporate transactions. Edward also specialises in advising UK and international businesses on investment, M&A, corporate real estate and general corporate and commercial matters - particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors. He has been one of the driving forces behind the firm’s ‘All Consuming’ offering – a bespoke guide for clients in the consumer and retail sectors, now in its third edition.

The new senior counsel are:

• Alexander Erskine, Private client
• Jill Hamilton, Construction & Engineering
• Jane Hilton, Real Estate
• Saufung Ma, Patents
• Natalie Pilagos, Construction & Engineering

* Subject to standard regulatory approvals.