Personal Injury Solicitors Get Promotion at Birkett Long

Five solicitors including one personal injury solicitor are being promoted to associate status in recognition of their specialist skills and contribution to the rapid growth of Essex law firm Birkett Long. The firm has announced a series of promotions, alongside the adoption of a new corporate identity to mark its conversion to Limited Liability Partnership status from June 1.

The individuals promoted include Keith Songhurst, a solicitor specialising in construction law and litigation, who is a member of the Property Litigation Association and focuses on property disputes, is to become a partner. Emma Brunning, who works in family law, dealing with divorce, separation, matrimonial finances and contact with children, and is accredited by Resolution as a specialist family lawyer. Ben Twitchen, trained in Collaborative Law, a non-adversarial alternative to the divorce court, and he also advises in motoring prosecutions and health and safety cases. He is a member of the Family Law panel of experts.

Miranda Leate, an immigration law specialist: her work includes work permit and European Association Agreement applications; she is an experienced advocate in the immigration and civil courts and has conducted cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Finally Nadina Edmondson, who has 16 years' experience of personal injury cases behind her and is a member of the Law Society's Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Birkett Long has 18 partners and more than 150 staff across offices in Chelmsford and Colchester.

Managing partner Philip George said: “The LLP status gives the firm a modern structure from which we can continue to attract quality staff and clients.

“Any of the larger professional partnerships are choosing the corporate vehicle of LLP and we see it as integral to meeting our ambitious plans for growth. We are delighted to launch our new identity at the same time in order to support our plans and give us a robust platform from which to develop our brand values.”

The changes and promotions have been welcomed by all those involved and included, as the conversion to Limited Liability Partnership status will mean more work for everyone. In particular those with greater responsibility, namely Songhurst, Brunning, Twitchen, Leate and Edmondson whose tasks include management and supervision.

Birkett Long law firm is a law firm which supplies legal advice and services nationwide, based in Essex. It advises both businesses and individual clients, claiming ‘Our reputation is for providing high quality, cost effective and practical solutions, locally, nationally and internationally.’

The firm is pursuing a steady expansion plan and the firm is now one of the largest in the area, offering a wide range of specialist legal services, complemented by a team of independent financial advisers.  On their website it is claimed that ‘client care is at the top of our priority list.  We will do everything within our power to make the legal processes straightforward and problem free.’

Regarding the new Limited Liability Partnership status they have reported: ‘The partnership of Birkett Long became a Limited Liability Partnership on 1 June 2008. The Partners took the decision to change the legal make-up of the firm to give it a modern structure so we can continue to attract quality staff and clients to the firm. Many professional partnerships have taken this step in the past few years and we believe that this structure provides us with the right corporate vehicle to meet our ambitious plans for growth and development. You will notice our corporate identity has also been redesigned to coincide with our move to LLP status. These changes will not affect our service to clients and business partners. If anyone has any questions please contact our Managing Partner, Philip George.’