Forbes Solicitors makes two senior hires in commercial division

Forbes Solicitors has expanded its Commercial Division with two senior hires, bolstering capabilities to support businesses facing significant employment law reforms and increasingly complex risks of litigation. 

 ‘Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer’ Katy Parkinson has joined as a Partner specialising in employment and HR, while highly experienced commercial litigation lawyer Paul Hatton has joined the team as a Senior Associate. 

Katy has an extensive wealth of commercial employment knowledge and will help the team meet growing demand from clients getting to grips with major changes being introduced by The Employment Rights Act 2025. 

Based in Forbes’ Lancashire office, Katy has over 17 years of experience spanning both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including company restructuring, collective redundancy processes, ACAS early conciliation and employment tribunal proceedings, and TUPE transfers. 

Commenting on her new role, Katy said: “Organisations are facing the biggest employment law changes in a generation. With major reforms arriving this year and in 2027, companies need careful planning and collaboration across business disciplines and legal specialisms.

Forbes’ Commercial Division thrives on teamwork and knowledge sharing and is ideally placed to help companies embrace employment law changes as part of their operational strategies and growth goals. The opportunity to be part of this was too good to pass up.”

Paul Hatton joins with more than 20 years’ experience helping clients manage risks of litigation. An accredited mediator and advocate of alternative dispute resolution, he has previously advised on contractual disputes, professional negligence claims and shareholder and partnership disagreements.

Paul said: “Commercial litigation is becoming more complex because of rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), economic pressures and rising insolvency rates, changing employment laws and a surge in class action lawsuits.

"Forbes Solicitors’ Commercial Division has the expertise and experience businesses need to navigate these challenges and I’m looking forward to being part of the team and supporting clients.”

Emma Swan, a partner and the commercial division Lead, said: “Katy and Paul are extremely well respected and it’s a pleasure to welcome them to our team.

"They will support our growing client base throughout Lancashire and Greater Manchester, helping us stay ahead of demand for commercial services and reinforcing our commitment to dedicating time, energy and expertise to working closely with clients.”