North west law firm Myerson Solicitors has announced a series of senior leadership moves and appointments.
Richard Lloyd has been appointed as chief executive, with current CEO Carl Newton becoming non-executive chair of the board. In the residential property team, Carly Traverse has been promoted to partner as the firm continues to invest in its growing conveyancing team.
Lloyd (pictured above right) has taken up his new role after 26 years with Myerson, having led the firm’s commercial property team before becoming chief operating officer in 2019.
Lloyd will lead the firm’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations, while Newton will oversee governance and safeguard the purpose and integrity of Myerson’s employee ownership trust.
Lloyd said: “I am incredibly proud to become chief executive after 26 years with Myerson. Together, we have built a successful business with exceptional people, trusted client relationships and a culture rooted in our core values… As an employee-owned business, we are free to invest for the long term, attracting the very best talent, delivering exceptional service for our clients, making a positive contribution to our communities, and creating a responsible and sustainable business for the future.”
On the promotion of Traverse (pictured right), whose expertise includes acquisitions, refinancing, portfolio transactions, property incorporations and title restructures, Lloyd said: “Carly’s promotion is thoroughly deserved and reflects both her expertise and the important contribution she makes to our Residential Property team.”
Newton (pictured above left) said of his new role: “Leading Myerson over the past 21 years has been the greatest privilege of my professional career. Watching the firm grow into the business it is today has been an incredible journey.
“This leadership transition reflects the strength and depth we have built over many years. I am excited to continue supporting the firm as chair of the board, helping to safeguard our employee-owned structure and ensuring Myerson continues to thrive for the benefit of our people, our clients and future generations.”
Flint Bishop has appointed three senior partners to strengthen its presence across the north of England, including Richard Smith as partner and head of commercial property (north).
Smith will lead a 13-strong commercial property team spanning Sheffield, Leeds and York. He brings extensive expertise advising regional and national clients on complex commercial and residential development projects, property finance transactions and major regeneration schemes.
Joining Smith in the commercial property team is new partner Craig Law. With more than two decades of experience, Law is recognised for advising landowners, developers and investors on strategic land acquisitions, funding structures and major development projects.
Thomas Roberts and Hollie Scholey join the team as senior associates and Charlie John takes up a position as associate, working across development, investment, asset management and transactional real estate matters. Paul Trudgill joins as a partner in the corporate team.
Qamer Ghafoor, chief executive, said: “These appointments are a powerful endorsement of Flint Bishop’s reputation, ambition and momentum. Attracting lawyers of this calibre demonstrates the strength of our platform and our commitment to building one of the UK’s most dynamic and forward-thinking law firms.”
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has strengthened its real estate practice in London with the appointment of Simon Woodcock (left) as partner.
Woodcock joins from Goodwin Procter and advises on a broad range of transactional real estate matters, including direct and indirect investment, landlord and tenant matters, development and asset management. His practice spans multiple asset classes, including office, retail, student accommodation, PRS and industrial.
His appointment enhances Norton Rose Fulbright’s real estate offering and supports the firm’s continued growth across key sectors and markets.
“Norton Rose Fulbright’s international platform and sector strengths provide a compelling proposition for clients operating in today’s market”, Woodcock said. “I’m excited to join the team and look forward to helping clients deliver their most important real estate projects and investments.”
Knights has strengthened its residential property team in Beaconsfield with the appointment of experienced property specialist Sharan Kalsi as partner.
Kalsi (pictured right) brings a wealth of expertise across all aspects of residential property work to Knights, including traditional sales and purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity, equity release, right to buy and auction acquisitions.
Kalsi said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to join such a talented and ambitious team in Beaconsfield during such an exciting period of growth for the business both here in the Thames Valley and nationally.
“Knights has a market-leading reputation for delivering premium legal advice and I’m excited to see what we can achieve as one team in this highly collaborative and supportive working environment.”
Conveyancing distributor conveybuddy has appointed Chris Smith (pictured left) as regional director, covering London and the south east of England.
Smith will take on responsibility for developing the firm’s relationships with mortgage advisers and advisory businesses, while providing ongoing support to existing users of the conveybuddy platform.
Smith said: “I’m delighted to be joining conveybuddy at an exciting stage in its development and to have the opportunity to work with Harpal again. Having worked across the intermediary mortgage market for many years, I understand how important it is for advisers to work with businesses that can provide the right combination of technology, service and personal support.
“There is a real opportunity for advisers to provide their clients with greater support around conveyancing while also adding another valuable income stream to their businesses.”
Finally, Midlands firm mfg Solicitors has made a series of additions to its growing residential property team.
Elizabeth Simpson joins the Kidderminster office as a paralegal, and will work through her exams to qualify as a residential property solicitor in January 2027 while she supports the growing team and its clients.
In Ludlow, chartered legal executive Deborah Bufton has joined as an associate. With over 40 years’ experience in residential conveyancing, Bufton will focus on advising and guiding clients through all aspects of property sales and purchases across Shropshire.
And the Worcestershire real estate team has welcomed a newly qualified solicitor to its ranks; Victoria Cairns-Terry, who joined the firm in 2024, has completed the two-year qualification while working full-time at the firm.
