A leading North East law firm is promoting two experienced solicitors to senior positions within the company.
Solicitors Rachel Swinburne and Katy Rushworth, of Newcastle-based Clarke Mairs LLP, are being named as partners in recognition of their dedication to the firm and the successful development of their departments.
Rachel, who lives in the Tyne Valley, joined Clarke Mairs in February 2013 to bolster the firm’s Private Client division, and advises clients on all aspects of wills and estate planning, trusts, succession planning and inheritance tax. Rachel is also a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is a Panel Deputy for the Office of the Public Guardian.
Clarke Mairs launched its Private Client department in 2010 to offer expert advice about personal matters to its commercial clients. Since joining the company, Rachel has continually grown the department’s case load through a combination of internal and external referrals, aided by building an extensive network of relationships. A new solicitor will shortly be joining the firm in response to the continually increasing demand for these services.
Rachel said: “It’s very exciting to be named as a partner at Clarke Mairs. It’s lovely to have been given this recognition, and I feel very privileged to be joining the other partners in what is such an intelligent, hardworking team.
“Clarke Mairs has a very supportive ethos, which was clear from the moment I joined the firm. We have fantastic administrative support and a very efficient, organised set-up, which has meant that I’ve been able to focus on going out and making new connections for the company. I very much enjoy meeting people and spreading the word about the exceptional Private Client services we offer.
“When I began working at Clarke Mairs, Private Client services were primarily offered to existing business clients, so it’s fantastic to see the department now thriving in its own right, with a solid base of clients who are very loyal and recommend us to others.
“This area of the law is so rewarding because we spend time building relationships with our clients, learning about their family backgrounds and discussing how best we can help them. With this in mind, it is our aim to become our clients’ ‘go to’ Private Client solicitors for life, so that they know they can turn to us at every step of their journey – and trust us to offer the same excellent standards of service to their families and friends.”
“Now, as a partner, I aim to further expand the Private Client department so that it achieves the same excellent reputation that the other departments here possess.”
Katy Rushworth, who specialises in Leasehold Enfranchisement and joined Clarke Mairs as a trainee in 2007, is also becoming a partner at the firm.
Katy acts almost exclusively for landlords and tenants in the exercise of rights under Leasehold Enfranchisement legislation. She has particular experience in dealing with high value or contested matters and is a member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP).
Katy, who lives in Bardon Mill, has always enjoyed working in the area of residential leaseholds. After qualifying in property law, Katy used the experience she had gained while training at Clarke Mairs’ to steadily bring in a number of new clients and to build relationships with local and national surveyors.
Over the course of her career, Katy has continued to successfully expand this specialist department, and now leads a team of three, including a trainee solicitor.
Katy said: “In February, I will be marking 10 years since I began my career at Clarke Mairs as a trainee, so this is a very exciting time for me to become a partner. Since I joined the team, I have always found the firm to be very supportive of ideas. The environment is very friendly and everyone, at every level, is encouraged to contribute suggestions.
“I have several plans in the pipeline for our department, including the development of our website, to make it more interactive and user friendly. We plan to introduce a better body of information for clients, using a new platform whereby they can receive automatically generated quotes on our website. With the demands of everyday life, people appreciate being able to access information instantly – at any time of day or night – not just during office hours.
“As a partner, I will also continue to build relationships with valuers, manage the growing demand for our Leasehold Enfranchisement advice, and work closely with our trainee to further develop her skills in this area.”
Partner of Clarke Mairs, Tim Clarke, said: “We’re delighted to announce Rachel and Katy as our newest partners at Clarke Mairs, in recognition of their hard work, loyalty, initiative, and the immense success they have both had in developing their respective departments. The passion they have for their work is admirable, and we continue to look for this quality in every new recruit.
“Both Katy and Rachel have also continually demonstrated their ability to build long term client relationships, and are excellent ambassadors for the firm. I look forward to seeing how they continue to evolve their departments in the coming months.”
Clarke Mairs offers legal services to businesses and individuals nationwide. It is ranked in the Legal 500 and is LEXCEL accredited through the Law Society.