Glaisyers Solicitors has added six new members to its team since the beginning of the Covid-19 restrictions on economic and social activity. Four of Glaisyers’ existing paralegals have also embarked on training contracts with the growing Manchester firm.
The latest recruits are solicitors Anas Shah and Stacey Regan, paralegal advocate Arianna Barnes and trainee solicitor Nathan Hughes. They join litigation solicitor Clare Oliver and head of corporate William Pinnock, both of whom joined during the full lockdown earlier in the year.
Mr Shah and Ms Barnes have both joined Glaisyers’ litigation practice, bringing the department’s total headcount to 11. Prior to joining Glaisyers Mr Shah worked for Preston firm Vincents and Ms Barnes held positions with LPC Law and DWF.
These appointments mark further growth in a department that has just been listed in the Manchester commercial litigation section of the Legal 500. This year was the first time Glaisyers had applied for inclusion in the legal sector’s gold-standard rankings publication.
Meanwhile, Ms Regan, a specialist litigator and personal injury lawyer with more than ten years’ experience, has been appointed to Glaisyers’ road traffic accident practice. In her last role before joining Glaisyers she spent six months as a lawyer in Sydney, Australia, and previously worked for BLM in Manchester.
Mr Hughes completed his Legal Practice Certificate at the University of Law in 2018, and has joined Glaisyers as a trainee solicitor. He joins former Glaisyers paralegals Charles Hughes, Liliana Armitage and Tram Phan, and costs law professional Nick Mercer, all of whom have moved on to training contracts with the firm.
David Jones, executive partner and head of litigation at Glaisyers, said, “We were clear from day one that we wouldn’t let the pandemic get in the way of our long-term plans. One of the first things we did back in March was to confirm a round of partner promotions, and now we are bolstering our teams to take advantage of the recovery.
“I am particularly pleased to have been able to proceed with the training contracts we had promised to some of our most talented team members, and also to have extended this to new recruits. It feels especially good to have been able to do this at a time when some larger firms have felt they have had to back away from their commitments to their trainees.
“For us it’s about doing the right thing, and also about building the strongest team we can for the future. I would like to welcome all our new team members on board at what remains a really exciting time for Glaisyers.
“Of course we can’t pretend the pandemic hasn’t had any effect but, really, it’s only really accelerated the same cyclical factors we have to live with, and manage, all the time.
“Some departments will always do better during times of economic growth while others will see demand for their services increase during downturns. Running a profitable law firm for the long term is about managing this and, wherever possible, being flexible and ensuring clients always know you can provide the services they need at the time they need them.
“The Legal 500 rankings are another shining example of how proud we are of all our team’s work, in particular the amazing results that Alison Rocca, Hannah Vachre and Daniel Fitzgerald have achieved for clients. Being listed really is the icing on the cake for us, and welcome recognition for the quality of the work we do and the level of service we always strive to provide for clients.”
In late 2018 Glaisyers underwent a management buy-in led by executive partner David Jones and managing partner David Marlor, backed by the international professional services group ETL Global. It has since then established a presence in London, invested in new IT systems and invested heavily in its team as it has expanded its client base in the UK and internationally.
