Home-grown talent recognised through promotions at Plymouth law firm

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has confirmed a number of senior promotions across its UK offices, including a new partner and a new associate in the firm's Plymouth office. The office also recently welcomed Andrij Jurkiw, WBD's head of competition, who relocated to Plymouth last month.

Stephen Panton, in the commercial disputes team, has been promoted to partner. With over 20 years' experience in regulatory compliance and enforcement, Stephen acts for public and private sector clients on all aspects of health & safety, environmental and consumer protection law, he also works on investigations involving financial crime.

Sarah Dinshaw, in the real estate team, has been promoted to associate. Sarah advises landlord & tenant clients, buyers and sellers, public bodies and registered providers amongst others on a range of commercial property transactions.

The good news in Plymouth is part of a wider raft of promotions across WBD's offices in the UK with 31 promotions which include seven partners, four legal directors and 20 associates.

Partner Andrij Jurkiw, who heads up the firm's competition team, joined WBD in May 2018 and he was based in Bristol before moving to Plymouth. Andrij specialises in UK & EU competition law and has particular experience in the FMCG, food, building materials, chemicals, recruitment, pharma, real estate, technology and transport sectors. On the transactional side, Andrij advises on merger filing requirements, merger clearances, restrictive covenants and the enforceability of restrictions in commercial agreements.

Jonathan Blair, UK managing partner at WBD, commented: "Congratulations to all of our new partners, legal directors and associates, who have all made fantastic contributions to our business. Their hard work, commitment to the firm and first rate legal expertise deserves to be recognised and celebrated."

"The career development opportunities of our people continues to be a high priority and these promotions signify an important investment in the future of our firm."

The promotions bring the total number of UK partners at WBD to 132 and follow a number of senior hires across the firm with new partners Jessica Tresham(construction, London and Southampton), Deborah Ramshaw (public sector, Newcastle), Kathryn Wood (real estate, Leeds), James Radcliffe (private client, Bristol), Will Ford (private client, London) and Paul Mason (real estate, Edinburgh) joining the firm in the past few months.

WBD is amongst the largest law firms in the South West and was highly ranked in this year's legal directories Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. The firm was ranked for its expertise in key practice areas including commercial property, EU and competition, IT & telecoms, real estate, environment, employment, health & safety and property litigation to name just a few. Many of the firm's South-West based lawyers were also ranked as "Leading Individuals" and featured in the Legal 500's 'Hall of Fame'.

Ranking in the UK's top 20 law firms, WBD provides legal expertise on a range of sectors including financial institutions, insurance, public & government services, energy & natural resources, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, retail & consumer, transport, logistics & infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology & life sciences, technology and private client. The firm has 27 offices across the UK and US.