Leading Midlands law firm Wright Hassall has strengthened its specialist private client and contentious probate teams with a series of new appointments.
Associates Danielle Pawson and Maya Elci join Paralegal Gaitri Majitha within the firm’s contentious probate team. All three new recruits will be dealing with disputed estates while Danielle also bolsters the firm’s contested Court of Protection offering.
Senior Associate Deborah Beal and Solicitor Katie Deakin have also joined the private client team, dealing with matters relating to wills, trusts and tax planning.
The additions help increase the contentious probate team within the firm’s Olympus Avenue offices in Leamington Spa to seven, making it one of the largest in the Midlands, with the private client department expanding to nine.
Katie Alsop, a partner in Wright Hassall’s highly regarded contentious probate team, said: “Work within contentious probate is busier than ever and as we start the New Year it is fantastic to see us strengthen our numbers to respond to demand.
“With the additions of Danielle, Maya and Gaitri, we now have a team with considerable strength and depth which will enable us to build on our existing expertise."
Danielle Pawson, who joins from Clarion in Leeds, is recognised in the Legal 500 and advises on all contested probate matters, specialising in contentious Court of Protection work.
Joining from Hubbard Pegman Whitney in London, Maya Elci specialises in contentious matters relating to wills, trusts and probate disputes.
Gaitri Majitha arrives from Legal 500 firm Keoghs in Liverpool and assists across all matters within the contentious probate team.
The private client department welcomes Deborah Beal – who specialises in inheritance tax and trust advice – alongside Katie Deakin, both joining from Kidderminster-based Thursfields.
Head of private client and partner Tracy Ashby added: “I have worked with both Deborah and Katie previously and know how well respected they are, so I am thrilled to have them on board.
“Deborah has a wealth of experience across a varied caseload of private client work, while Katie was about to start her training when I first met her and has now developed into a very capable solicitor.
“Their appointments strengthen the team and the support we can provide for specialist areas such as tax and care funding.”
Caption: New appointments strengthen Wright Hassall’s team. In photo: (l-r) Tracy Ashby, Katie Deakin, Deborah Beal, Maya Elci, Milena Stras, Susan Floyd, Gaitri Majitha, Danielle Pawson, and Katie Alsop.