Weightmans welcomes five new partners to the firm, bringing fresh insight and deep expertise to several of our key practice areas.
Nicole Ridgwell
Nicole Ridgwell joins as a partner in our Regulatory Healthcare Advisory team in the London office. Previously a partner at Lester Aldridge Solicitors, Nicole is a health and care regulatory specialist who advises health and care providers on their CQC/Ofsted and other care regulatory obligations and enforcement action by care regulators. She has significant experience in public and administrative law matters, including judicial reviews and safeguarding investigations as well as undertaking regulatory due diligence for buyers, sellers of and investors in health and care businesses.
Her appointment follows several key hires in our healthcare team recently, which continues to go from strength to strength.
On Nicole’s appointment Richard Jolly, Partner and Head of Health, said:
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It reflects our continued investment in the depth, breadth and resilience of our health and care regulatory capability, enabling us to support clients across an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and operational landscape.
Ben Wilson
Partner, Ben Wilson joins the firm to lead our Disputed Wills, Trusts and Estates Group.
Based in our Manchester office, Ben specialises in contentious trusts and probate disputes and is consistently recognised in the legal directories as a leading expert in his field. A member of ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists) he joins an award-winning team with experience in some of the most high-value and complex disputes in the country, including multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Emma Collins, Head of Individual Services, said:
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We are excited to welcome Ben as part of our continued growth in this important area of expert support for our clients, nationally and internationally.
Away from the office, Ben is currently learning to play golf.
Chris Love
Chris Love joins the firm as a partner in our Insolvency and Recoveries team in the Manchester office, and strengthens our presence in the North West and beyond.
Chris joins from Primas Law where he was a partner and the Head of Restructuring and Insolvency. Recognised in legal directories, he is a leading expert in his field, assisting companies, lenders, creditors, and directors with restructuring advice, business and asset sales, insolvency litigation, enforcing security and winding up/bankruptcy proceedings.
Welcoming Chris to the team, Charles Boyne, Head of Insolvency at Weightmans, said:
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His expertise, relationships and market reputation make him the ideal person to lead the growth of our Manchester practice, supported by the depth and capability of our national Insolvency and Restructuring team. We are excited to welcome Chris and look forward to the opportunities ahead.
Meredith Hurst
Meredith Hurst joins us as an Employment partner based in our London office.
Formerly at Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, where he was a lead partner in its specialist employment practice, Meredith advises businesses, senior executives, and professionals in all aspects of employment law, with a particular interest and expertise in financial services and the transport and logistics sector.
Meredith joins alongside Legal Director, Claire Gilbert and Associate, Jaimie Whiteley, further strengthening the depth of expertise in the firm’s EPI team.
Nick Newman, Partner, said:
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I am delighted to welcome Meredith, Claire and Jaimie to our London team. Their arrivals further strengthen our offering in London and the wider EPI Department and are aligned to the ambitious national and international growth plans of the department and wider firm. They bring technical expertise, sector knowledge and a strong client focus, enhancing the support we can provide our clients and creating new opportunities for collaboration across our wider national practice.
Away from the office, Meredith is a keen painter of landscapes, having recently exhibited and sold work in Norfolk and Essex!
James Stephenson
James Stephenson joins Weightmans as a partner in our Litigation team in Liverpool and has over 15 years’ experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution.
Having worked at various firms in the city (including Hill Dickinson, Brabners and most recently Napthens), James has developed a wide practice area focusing on complex, high-value disputes. James acts for a wide variety of clients across a range of sectors from owner managed businesses to large corporates and high-net worth individuals. His practice area focuses on all aspects of commercial litigation including contractual disputes, warranty and indemnity claims, director and shareholder disputes, and professional negligence claims.
Jessica Kraja, Partner, said:
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We are thrilled to have James join the national litigation team, based in Liverpool. James is a specialist in his field and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, commercial understanding and ideas, which makes him a key individual in our plans for growth in Liverpool and nationally. With his particular focus being on owner managed businesses, a key segment for the firm, we are very pleased to welcome James to Weightmans.
James has spent the last 22 years studying, working and living in Liverpool and loves the vibrancy and down-to-earth nature of the city.