Sector Focus


Legal


Elizabeth Hicks: Holidays send the divorce rate soaring


The end of the holidays could


end relationships Law firm Irwin Mitchell are forecasting a rise in divorces following the summer holidays. The firm, which has an office in Birmingham, says that holidays are a time when “couples re-assess their lives and choose to end relationships and make fresh start”. And a decision to separate or


divorce can lead to child custody battles, particularly if one of the parents decides to relocate abroad. Irwin Mitchell says there are


around 100,000 divorces each year with about half involving children under 16. In 2015, almost 300,000 people emigrated from Britain, with many high-flying expats moving for work in countries such as Australia, Dubai, Canada and the USA.


‘Parents delay taking action so that their children can enjoy their summer break’


Elizabeth Hicks, specialist family and divorce lawyer at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth, said: “The end of the summer holidays is a peak period for relationship break-ups. “In our experience, the rise in enquiries following the summer holiday is not usually caused by bad experiences on the holiday itself. The decision to split has often been made weeks earlier but parents delay taking action so that their children can enjoy their summer break. “A decision to divorce can easily


lead to child relocation battles if one parent decides to start a new life abroad. Whether you want to relocate or oppose an application to remove your children there are many issues to consider. The courts will require you to illustrate genuine reasons behind the motivation to move abroad and to outline the housing, childcare, healthcare and education arrangements you will have in place should you be successful.


50 CHAMBERLINK October 2016


Wilkes carves out a record-breaking year


The corporate team of Solihull law firm Wilkes has had a record breaking start to the financial year, advising clients on deals worth in excess of £100 million during the summer. The team advised on a range of transactions,


‘We are delighted with the progress that the corporate team has made’


including acquisitions, disposals, corporate restructurings, venture capital investments and banking. The deals included advising US forestry management


business F&W Forestry on its acquisition of OCS Forestry in UK and private equity firm NVM’s disposal of non-destructive testing firm Silverwing, a firm it frst invested in four years ago. Other deals included advising JP McGurk on its


acquisition of Brook Business Park near Coventry and the £40m sale of cosmetic surgery business Hospital Medical Group.


As a result of its growth, the


corporate team has taken on a new member, Lucy Freeman, who has joined from Squire Patton Boggs. Lucy spent two years in SPB’s


corporate team. Her experience includes advising on a range of corporate transactions including acquisitions, disposals, management buyouts, corporate reorganisations and joint ventures. She also advises on day-to-day corporate governance and corporate housekeeping. Lucy also spent time on secondment to Squire Patton Boggs’ Paris office and is a French speaker. Corporate head Gareth O’Hara said: “We are


delighted with the progress that the corporate team has made over the last few months. “This record-breaking period and expansion of the


team further demonstrates the strength of our firm’s corporate offering.”


Law firm nurtures talent


Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has handed promotions to 13 staff in the West Midlands as part of its ongoing commitment to nurturing the hottest talent on the market. Promotions in the region include


Emma Bryant, Laura Murphy, Ravinder Johal, Alan Dark, Rachael Hobbis, Lisa Watts and Catherine Yule to legal director positions, as well as Andrew Rushfirth, Sophie Samani, James Thomas, Hannah Oseland, Charlotte Fisher, Justine Ball and Gareth Hegarty to associate level. The promotions mark the growth


of the firm’s corporate, real estate and litigation practices. The launch of the Shakespeare Martineau Academy has played an integral role in training and developing the talented team at the firm – helping wide scale promotions to take place. In the last year, the academy has supported over 650 people by


providing a mixture of professional and personal development courses, leading to 21 people across the firm’s nine offices being rewarded with an associate or legal director position. Victoria Tester, HR director at


Shakespeare Martineau based in the Birmingham office, said: “Our clients are seeking advisers that are not only fluent in the law but can apply it to their businesses or personal affairs with commercial integrity. “This is why the variety of


courses available at the firm is so broad and includes business skills training as well as professional qualifications. “There is no doubt that


those who have been rewarded for all their hard work have taken advantage of the academy in order to take the next step in their careers. “The ambitious nature of our


team is certainly reflected by businesses in the region too.


Victoria Tester, HR director


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