Forbes Solicitors announces 35 promotions

Leading law firm Forbes Solicitors has made 35 promotions as it continues to strengthen its commitment to people development and recognise outstanding client service. 

There have been seven promotions to Partner across a number of the firm’s specialisms and offices throughout Lancashire and Manchester. 

Catherine Kennedy, who joined the firm’s Housing & Regeneration Property team as an Associate in August 2018, has been made a Partner, while Victoria Motley also moves from Associate to Partner in the Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts team. 

Ben Wilson, who has doubled the size of Forbes’ Contentious Trusts and Probate team after he set it up in 2017 also joins the 48-strong Partnership, along with Head of Commercial John Pickervance who also leads the firm’s fast-growing Manufacturing & Engineering Sector group.  

The Dispute Resolution team’s Stephen McArdle’s promotion to Partner follows his third consecutive recommended listing in the annual Legal 500, where it’s noted that his ‘excellent advice gets straight to the real nub of disputes’. 

Promotion to Partner for the Crime Team’s Carrie Gilgun, marks another milestone in a distinguished career with Forbes, which began 19 years ago when she started as a Police Station Representative.

David Mayor in the firm’s Insurance team completes the Partner promotions. David specialises in complex construction and sports claims and was also recently appointed as the new President of Blackburn Incorporated Law Association (BiLA).

Other promotions see 19 professionals becoming Senior Associates and nine solicitors being promoted to Associates. These promotions have been achieved across both of the firm’s personal and business services departments, which specialise in areas of law ranging from commercial property through to corporate law, litigation and employment.   

Oliver Burton, CEO at Forbes Solicitors, comments: “It’s especially pleasing to see so many promotions across different teams and offices. All areas of the firm constantly strive to work closely together to create opportunity for clients and each other, and this is recognised in the successes and achievements of these promotions.

“Well done to everyone and I’d like to thank them for working so hard and continuing to pursue opportunities when markets are so unpredictable.

“I’m so proud of the culture we have built at Forbes. Our team are ambitious and entrepreneurial individuals, just like the clients we support. Being able to watch our people progress and develop their careers is one of the most rewarding parts of my job and I look forward to seeing each of them thrive in their new roles.”