I’m very pleased to announce that with effect from 1 October, we have promoted three of our existing associate solicitors to become directors of the firm.

Jennifer Heckingbottom, who oversees our Child Care Law team in Sheffield; Catrin Lloyd, who leads the Wills and Probate team; and Charlotte Reeves, an experienced Clinical Negligence and Inquests solicitor, have all been promoted to director in recognition of their talent, exceptional client handling, commitment and determination.

Jennifer Heckingbottom joined Switalskis in September 2007 as a paralegal, based out of Leeds. She moved to the firm’s Sheffield office in June this year. Catrin Lloyd joined in 2010 to head up the Wills & Probate team, managing what is now one of the fastest-growing teams in the business following significant investment. Charlotte Reeves joined the Clinical Negligence department in 2010, specialising in complex obstetric injury cases. Charlotte is also a member of the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence panel.

We invest heavily in employee development and Jennifer, Catrin and Charlotte each progressed through our externally-accredited Associate Development Programme (ADP). The programme was designed to give all staff the opportunity to develop their skills in areas including leadership, financial management, client relationship management and communication, and progress to a more senior role within the firm.

Harnessing talent and retaining expertise within our teams is extremely important to us as we continue to grow organically and through acquisition. We are delighted to promote three of our outstanding associate solicitors onto the board of directors. All three individuals have shown real leadership qualities as well as being very good lawyers and continued to make significant contributions to their departments and the business. They are each at the top of their respective areas of specialism and I look forward to working closely with them to further support their career aspirations.