Manchester-based law firm JMW Solicitors has made more than 34 promotions across all levels and departments at the firm, including six at equity level.
Ian Lewis and Mike Rainford from business crime and regulation, Warren Martin from real estate finance, Michael Purvis from real estate residential and Graham Small from commercial litigation have all been made full equity partners.
In addition, as has been reported, David Pickering of DWF will also join the equity on May 1.
Ian Lewis and Graham Small both joined JMW in September 2016 and were previously founding Partners of Lewis Hymanson Small.
Ian specialises in professional regulatory defence in all areas of fitness to practice and professional discipline.
He has a leading reputation for representing the most senior police officers in the UK at misconduct hearings, inquests and inquiries.
Amongst other associations, he has recently been appointed as national solicitor to CPOSA, the Police Superintendents Association (PSAEW) and Greater Manchester Police Federation.
Graham Small is a partner in commercial litigation and handles complex and high value disputes.
He is presently acting for an international businessman in respect of a dispute with a value of $181m, which is spread over a number of jurisdictions including the UK, BVI, Qatar and the Isle of Man.
Due to his deep and lengthy legal and business experience, he acts as “trusted adviser” to a number of regional entrepreneurs and businesses.
Mike Rainford joined JMW as a partner in 2015 from Burton Copeland where he was head of their business crime, fraud and regulatory team for more than eight years.
There has been three promotions from salaried partner to fixed share equity partner for Mark Heppell a partner in corporate and commercial, Jodi Lund a partner in real estate finance and Majid Mahmood a partner in real estate commercial.
Elsewhere, there has been seven promotions from senior associate to partner, ten promotions to senior associate and a further nine to associate level.
Staff numbers have also increased at JMW from 360 to 440 in the last 12 months and in the past five years staff numbers have increased by 84 per cent.
The firm is now on course to boost turnover to well over £30m by April 2018, the end of the financial year 2017/18, which is an increase of 107 per cent from £14.5m five years ago in 2014/15.
Commenting on the promotions at JMW, senior partner Joy Kingsley said: “All these promotions are extremely well deserved and we were delighted to offer equity to Ian Lewis, Graham Small, Mike Rainford, Michael Purvis, Warren Martin and David Pickering at JMW.
“All apart from Warren and Michael have been equity partners at other Manchester firms.
“Michael’s rise at 38 years of age from associate to equity partner in six years is unprecedented and reflects the massive contribution he has made to the development of our property business.
“For our continued growth it is very important we retain our talented people by rewarding them for their considerable contributions and this is shown in the promotions this year which represents 14 per cent of eligible employees.”