Thames Valley: Pitmans announces three new promotions

Positivity is bubbling within the Thames Valley's largest law firm, Pitmans LLP, as it announces three internal promotions to enhance its employment, advocacy and dispute resolution teams. Angela Shields and Will Richmond-Coggan have been promoted to partners, with Michael Allenby-Smith promoted to a director, in this move which recognises their dedication, effort and commitment. 

Shields qualified in 2000 and joined Pitmans in 2002. She specialises in employment disputes including unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, discrimination and obtaining or defending applications for injunctions in relation to restrictive covenants, confidential information or intellectual property. She deals with all aspects of employment law that manages and enhances the employment relationship from recruitment through business reorganisations, family friendly issues, collective consultation, discipline and grievance to outsourcing, compromise agreements and severance packages.

Richmond-Coggan was called to the Bar in 2000 before dual qualifying as a solicitor-advocate in 2004. Since then he has conducted advocacy to Court of Appeal level and having established in-house higher court advocacy provision at Pitmans is regularly instructed in High Court and complex County Court matters. He has for several years been a committee member of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates. In addition to dealing with a number of high-value commercial disputes, often with a technology focus, he specialises in disputes involving trusts and probate, pensions, and media and reputational matters particularly in connection with publications online or across borders.

Allenby-Smith joined Pitmans in 2005 and qualified into the dispute resolution team in 2007. He specialises in commercial disputes, shareholder disputes, claims for breach of contract and misrepresentation, injunctions and against professional advisers. He also works closely with the commercial property department on landlord and tenant, general property and construction disputes.

Christopher Avery, Pitmans’ managing partner, said: “We’re delighted with the contribution that Angela, Will and Michael have consistently delivered and believe they offer clients unique expertise that enhance our service offering. Over the past 12 months, the firm has performed strongly with various teams and individuals particularly standing out. We wish them well in their new, well-deserved roles.”