Switalskis has boosted its child care team with two appointments and two promotions from within the team.

Switalskis’ child care team supports children, parents, family members and carers of children in legal proceedings. It welcomes solicitor Gabrielle Richardson and CILEX Katie Wiggett and promotes Sana Mahmood and Ellie Messenger to become graduate apprentices. The new appointments take Switalskis’ child care team headcount up to 21 people.

Gabrielle Richardson joins Switalskis as a newly qualified solicitor, based in its Leeds office. Gabrielle will work closely with parents who require representation in care proceedings. Her ambition is to further develop her career in childcare law and to become a children’s panel member.

Katie Wiggett will be part of Switalskis’ South Yorkshire child care team, based in the firm’s Sheffield office. Katie is experienced in childcare and family proceedings and is well established and respected amongst her peers in the Sheffield courts. A CILEX-qualified lawyer, Katie specialised in child care during her qualification, providing her with extensive knowledge and experience in this area of law.

Switalskis also announces the promotion of Sana Mahmood and Ellie Messenger who become graduate apprentices, promoted from Switalskis’ care paralegal team.

Sana joined Switalskis’ care team as a paralegal in 2022. Alongside her professional career, Sana has actively engaged in community and national based projects. This includes involvement in the Cerebra Pro Bono Research Programme which helps benefit the lives of disabled children and their families. She has also presented a paper to the Prime Minister’s special advisor about the impact of COVID-19 on the BAME community.

On her promotion, Ellie Messenger says: “The graduate apprenticeship is a diverse learning experience. It will allow me to gain hands-on experience alongside completing my Solicitors Qualifying Examinations. It will also expose me to the work that is carried out within different departments across the firm. In turn, this will let me develop a well-rounded skill set and a broader understanding of the legal profession.”

Director Ruth Coneron leads Switalskis’ child care team. She says: “This area of law requires very specific people qualities combining clarity, empathy, expertise and tenacity – qualities which all four people exude in abundance. Bringing in Gabrielle and Katie and promoting Ellie and Sana further strengthens our expert team. They will enable us to continue offering clients realistic and competent advice, helping them to achieve positive outcomes for children.”

Ruth continues: “Ellie and Sana are hardworking, ambitious young people who are keen to progress their training in our care team. They are both strong team players who are thriving within our busy department. They work hard for our clients to ensure they get the best advice and representation.”