South: Promotions for 18 Blake Lapthorn team members

Law firm Blake Lapthorn has made 18 promotions across its four offices in London, Southampton, Oxford and Portsmouth.

At Blake Lapthorn’s Southampton office employment solicitor Ruth Christy, corporate finance solicitor Mark Nixon, commercial litigation solicitor Jessica Tresham, clinical negligence solicitor Gemma Bailey, family solicitor Sarah French, employment solicitor Lisa Wallis and south coast real estate solicitor Katie Hunt have all been promoted to associate.

From the Oxford office, charities solicitor Liz Brownsell and succession and tax solicitor Alison Craggs have been promoted to associate.

From the London office, banking and finance solicitor Chris Knott, professional regulatory solicitor Venessa Holt and commercial litigation solicitor Alex Shirtcliff have all been promoted to associate.

Senior law costs draftsman Neil Sexton and succession and tax solicitor Gavin Holt have been promoted to senior executive.

Southampton’s Hampshire real estate solicitor Allen Townsend and risk and compliance solicitor Matt Sturgeon have been promoted to senior associate.

From Oxford’s Seacourt office, family solicitor Claire Colbert and Oxford real estate solicitor Michael Ward have both been promoted to senior associate.

Stephen Murfitt, chairman and senior partner at Blake Lapthorn, said: "I am delighted to be able to announce these promotions, which reflect the high quality of people we have at Blake Lapthorn. It is pleasing to see clear evidence that we develop great talent internally."