Partner promotions in WBD’s Leeds office

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has confirmed a number of senior promotions across its UK offices, including new partners Fiona Graham and Andrew Hirst in the firm’s Leeds office.

Fiona joined the firm’s property disputes team in 2005 and specialises in commercial property litigation advising both landlords and tenants across a wide range of sectors on complex contentious property matters. She works across both WBD’s Leeds and Newcastle offices.

Andrew is a projects and procurement lawyer with over 13 years’ experience advising on public sector contracts and public procurement. His key specialisms include heat networks, leisure, waste and PFI handback

The good news in Leeds is part of a wider raft of promotions across WBD’s offices in the UK including seven partner and six legal director promotions. This also follows the promotions of 23 new managing associates and associates last month, including four in Leeds.

Jonathan Blair, UK managing partner at WBD, comments: “Congratulations to all of our new partners and legal directors, whose hard work, commitment and contribution to the growth of our business deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

“We’re proud of the incredible talent we’ve developed at the firm. People are at the heart of what we do and we want them to enjoy long and successful careers with us. This is why we make it our priority to ensure everyone has the opportunity to develop, grow and be rewarded for their success.”

This year’s partner promotions follow a number of senior hires across the firm with new partners Kathryn Wood (real estate, Leeds), Deborah Ramshaw (public sector, Newcastle), Jessica Tresham (construction, London and Southampton), Will Ford (private client, London), Paul Mason (real estate, Edinburgh) and James Radcliffe (private client, Bristol) joining the firm since May 2020.

Ranking in the UK’s top 20 law firms, WBD is the transatlantic law firm close to home with a large office in Leeds. The firm supports its clients with their regional, national and international growth strategies from seven offices in the UK and 19 offices in the US. Last week, WBD announced the election of its new UK Managing Partner, Paul Stewart, who will succeed Jonathan Blair at the end of his current term in early 2022 after 13 years at the head of the firm.