Latest promotions announced
29 April 2022
We are delighted to announce the following promotions effective from 1 May 2022:
Debbie Ashenhurst - promoted to Equity Partner (LLP member)
Debbie is a commercial litigator specialising in reputation management, privacy, data protection and commercial/corporate disputes. She joined us in 2016 after spending eight years in the US. Before that she had been a partner at Olswang dealing mainly with defamation claims, as well as then working in house for both the Guardian and RSCPA. Debbie is proud of/resigned to being a GDPR geek and clients appreciate her detailed and pragmatic advice. Over the next ten years Debbie wants to build up the Info Law and Reputation Management practices at Wilsons. To relax Debbie likes to spend time with her family (and cats) and to exercise.
Mark Cook - promoted to Equity Partner (LLP member)
Mark joined us in February 2018 from Burges Salmon in Bristol and was promoted to partner in May 2020. Mark advises companies, entrepreneurs and not-for-profit organisations on corporate and commercial contracting matters. His particular areas of expertise are mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder agreements and corporate restructurings and reorganisations. Since being promoted to partner, Mark has continued to help expand the firm’s commercial offering, both in terms of introducing new corporate and private clients and maintaining and developing existing client relationships. Mark's promotion recognises the hard work and dedication that he has shown, both in terms of client work and also continuing to support the strategic growth of the firm.
Jess Broxup – promoted to Partner
Jess joined the Tax & Trust team in 2016 and this is her third promotion at Wilsons. During her time with us, Jess has gained her Chartered Tax Adviser qualification and has developed expertise in the difficult cross over zone between private clients, owner managed businesses and farms & estates. Since gaining her CTA qualification in January, Jess has been focussing on business development by building her network of contacts. This is a much deserved promotion for someone who combines intellect, commercial good sense and hard work.
Helen Lello – promoted to Partner
Helen is a valuable member of the Property team - she covers many aspects of property law and has particular expertise in large estates matters. She works closely with the Private Client Team on the property aspects involved in running a large estate - whether dealing with shorter term lets of small commercial units or buying or selling the estate itself. Helen is great to work with and clients really like her approachable and pragmatic style.
Chris Bull – promoted to Senior Associate
This is a second promotion for Chris since he joined the firm in September 2019. Alongside his case work, Chris has been busy studying and taking exams – he has gained his advanced certificate in UK Tax for International Clients, his Society of Trust and Estate Practitioner qualification and is now taking his Association of Tax Technician exams. Chris has worked hard to develop his offshore specialism. He is good at building relationships with clients, referrers and everyone across the firm and is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Jayna Patel – promoted to Senior Associate
Jayna joined us in 2015. She is a professional negligence specialist and enjoys nothing more than sending letters before action to errant solicitors, accountants, surveyors and architects. Acting mostly for claimants (against insured professionals), Jayna has achieved numerous successes for clients, helping to put them back in the position they would have been but for the wrongful actions of their previous advisers. Jayna has built up a referral network of other solicitors, professionals and experts and is experienced in guiding clients carefully through this sometimes complex area of law. Outside of work Jayna is an avid Wales fan and, when she can, likes snowboarding.
Emma Litchfield – promoted to Associate
Emma joined the Probate team a little while after qualifying as a solicitor in 2017. Emma is passionate about looking after her clients and often receives lovely feedback from both clients and referrers. Always contributing ideas and enthusiasm to the team, she is studying too and takes her final STEP exam in May. She is an extremely popular colleague and a delight to work with.
Leah Ringwood-Hoare – promoted to Associate
Leah joined Wilsons as a trainee and qualified into the Court of Protection team in 2018. The team was then in its infancy and Leah has been heavily involved in growing this new line of business and delivering fantastic service not just for clients, but for referrers too. Although Leah is still developing her expertise, she is already leading by example in her professional approach to her role. She is great fun too and the team is greatly enhanced by her being a key part of it. Leah is another of our lawyers who is studying for external accreditation - she takes her final STEP (vulnerable clients route) exam in May.
