Member Article

Yorkshire law firm strengthened by four newly qualified solicitors

hlw Keeble Hawson is further strengthening its Sheffield and Doncaster offices with the appointment of four newly qualified solicitors.

In a climate in which UK legal firms are offering fewer training contracts and finding it difficult to give permanent positions to qualified trainees, four out of six trainees are on board permanently after completing their contracts.

Three trainees are based at the practice’s Commercial House office in Sheffield where Andrew Broadbent joins the dispute resolution team; Sarah Robinson is a member of the corporate team and Amy Smith boosts the commercial property team.

The Doncaster office sees Sarah Finnemore joining the dispute resolution team.

Andrew, 25, who graduated from The University of Sheffield, said: “This is a great opportunity for all of us - hlw Keeble Hawson has a strong reputation and I really enjoyed my training with the firm.”

Amy Smith, 24, who is involved with the career mentoring scheme at Sheffield Hallam University commented: “I’m delighted as I didn’t want to leave hlw Keeble Hawson. Through my involvement with the mentoring programme, I hope to help current students achieve the same success as I have.”

Sarah Robinson, 26, commented: “It means a lot to be kept on as we’ve all worked really hard over the last couple of years and it’s tremendous that we have such a great start to our careers.”

Sarah Finnemore added: “We all took on training contracts amid a challenging financial climate and being appointed highlights that we are working for a practice which is doing well.”

Paul Gibbon, a partner in the commercial property team and trainee supervisor, said: “Retaining such a high number of our trainees as qualified solicitors is testimony to how hlw Keeble Hawson continues to go from strength to strength two years after our milestone merger.

“Our rigorous selection process is testimony to the high calibre of our newly qualified solicitors this year and we wish them continued success with us.”

hlw Keeble Hawson is one of the region’s largest law firms and has offices in Sheffield, Doncaster and Leeds.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .