Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival, has announced seven senior promotions, including two new partners.
Justine Flack and Tom Lawrence have been made partners in the firm; Katharine Danks and Helen Stewart have been promoted to the level of director; Hannah Ball, Alexandra Kirkwood and Matthew Thompson have been promoted to associate level.
Tessa Haskey, Howes Percival’s Chairman commented, “I am very pleased to announce these promotions which recognise the hard work and invaluable contribution these individuals have made, both in their respective practice areas and to the firm overall. At Howes Percival, we are committed to investing and developing our people, so I’m delighted to see three former trainees, moving up through the ranks.”
Partner Promotions:
Justine Flack - Specialisms: Family Services, Services for Individuals, Tax & Wealth Management, Wills & Probate
Justine is Head of Howes Percival’s Family Law Team in the East Midlands; she has been with the team since it was established and is deeply committed to its development. Justine has a breadth of experience in all issues relevant to relationship breakdown but particularly regarding the financial aspects. She regularly advises clients with complex financial arrangements. She is a Collaborative Lawyer and has a thriving practice in this area of dispute resolution.
Tom Lawrence - Specialism: Tax & Wealth Management, Wills & Probate
Tom specialises in advising business owners and their families on a wide range of complex succession issues including Will drafting and Estate planning, the formation of Trusts, administration of Estates and Powers of Attorney. In the Legal 500, Tom has been acknowledged as someone whose “knowledge inspires confidence” and is “technically up to speed, and prompt, and has good business acumen and a pleasant demeanour”. Tom sits as the Vice-chairman of the local branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and also holds the office of Treasurer for the SportsAid Norwich Charity.
Director level appointments:
Katharine Danks - Specialisms: Charities, Farms & Estates, Property, Tax & Wealth Management, Wills & Probate
Katharine is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association (ALA) which recognises her detailed knowledge of various aspects of agricultural and rural issues including trusts, taxation, land law, agricultural holdings, Town and Country Planning and the Common Agricultural Policy. Katharine has experience in acting for landowners, landlords, tenants and lenders in respect of agricultural property matters including agricultural holdings act advice and proceedings, farm business tenancies, acquisitions and disposals and secured lending on agricultural land and entitlements.
Helen Stewart - Specialisms: Property, Property Investment
Helen specialises in commercial property, predominantly dealing with development work. She has substantial experience in acting for both developers and landowners (including educational institutions) from dealing with more straightforward disposals and acquisitions to dealing with large site assembly for regeneration including due diligence, drafting development agreements, option agreements, overage agreements and conditional contracts. Helen also deals with landlord and tenant work including leases, agreements for lease, licences, etc. More recently, she has advised on residential development schemes.
Associate promotions:
Hannah Ball - Specialisms: Employment & Pensions, IT & E-commerce
Hannah specialises in all aspects of employment law and advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters. She has defended a range of Employment Tribunal claims including unfair dismissal and discrimination. Hannah regularly advises clients on non-contentious matters, such as contracts of employment. She also provides advice on disciplinary and performance issues, as well as assisting employers with grievances. Hannah is a former Howes Percival trainee.
Alexandra Kirkwood - Specialisms: Property, Property Investment
Alexandra advises on a wide range of real estate transactions encompassing residential & commercial development work, freehold and leasehold disposals and acquisitions (including high value portfolio work), landlord & tenant matters and property finance. She regularly assists the firm’s corporate and banking teams with corporate support work and also has extensive experience of advising schools on the property aspects of converting to an academy. Alexandra is a former Howes Percival trainee.
Matthew Thompson - Specialisms: Banking, Commercial Contracts, Corporate Finance, IT & E-commerce
Matthew is a solicitor in Howes Percival’s Corporate, Commercial and Banking Team. He provides advice on a broad range of corporate matters (including corporate deals of various sizes and restructurings), commercial matters (including commercial contracts and standard terms and conditions), loan agreements, and refinancing transactions. He qualified into the Corporate and Commercial department at Howes Percival in September 2014 after successfully completing his training contract with the firm.
