Thrings announces largest ever round of promotions

Top 100 law firm Thrings has appointed three partners, a legal director, six associates and eight senior associates - a brand new role for the firm – as part of its largest ever round of promotions.

Planning expert Ros Trotman, agricultural litigator Robert James and property finance specialist Karen Whitburn all become partners, while senior conveyancing executive Matthew Uncle is promoted to legal director, a role introduced by the firm in 2016 as an alternative to the traditional partner route.

Ros, who acts for clients on the planning aspects of urban development schemes, residential and mixed-use developments, is the current chairman of Women in Property South West. She was also recently named one of the region’s most powerful people in property. 

Robert specialises in dispute resolution and has significant experience of advising on a wide range of high value and complex disputes, predominately for clients within the agricultural sector. His work centres on business ownership disputes, claims relating the ownership use and enjoyment of land, inheritance claims and associated professional negligence claims arising out of these fields.

Karen is an expert in the property finance aspects of corporate transactions. She advises investors, owner-occupiers and entrepreneurs on a variety of matters, including secured lending, acquisitions, disposals and commercial leases.

And Matthew, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a residential property conveyancer, is promoted to legal director (non-qualified) where he will help develop the firm’s residential property work, manage relationships with key clients and mentor junior fee earners.

Elsewhere, four members of Thrings’ Real Estate team – Naomi Butler, Rebecca Dixon, Charlotte Dooling and Dan Langan – are promoted to the newly-created position of senior associate, as are Emily Harvey (Agriculture), Brett Lambe (Corporate and Commercial), Emily Prout (Dispute Resolution) and Natalie Ward (Employment).

Fred Quartermain (Agricultural Planning), Bonnie Ward (CILEx) and Carol Ward (both Succession and Tax), and Caitlin Mills (Australian qualified), Beth Paja and Rebecca Whiting (all Real Estate) complete the series of promotions by becoming associates.

The 18 newly promoted legal experts – who will work with colleagues in Thrings’ offices in Bath, Bristol, Swindon, London and Romsey – represent a continued commitment to growth by the firm which recently appointed residential property specialist Sue Cornall and inheritance and tax planning expert Penny Munro as legal director and senior associate respectively.

Simon Holdsworth, managing partner of Thrings, said: “Career progression remains integral to Thrings’ future growth and success, and a key component of our strategy is to ensure the right career structures and frameworks are in place. Doing this enables us to drive standards of performance and nurture and retain talent so our experts are well-placed to provide specialist legal advice to new and existing clients at all times.

“While these appointments are an illustration of that strategy, they also reinforce the firm’s commitment to organic growth. The Management Board and I would like to congratulate and thank all those who have secured promotions for their hard work and ongoing dedication to their clients and the firm, and wish them every success in their new roles.”