L-R: Jonathan Moreland (Managing Partner), Diane Hall (Associate Solicitor), Charlotte Excell (Managing Associate), Matt Ray (Associate Solicitor), Jenna Keir-Kendrew (Associate Solicitor), Lewis Brown (Managing Associate) and James Curran (Associate Solicitor).
Durham City’s leading law firm, Swinburne Maddison LLP (Swinburne Maddison) has announced seven promotions as it continues its ambitious three-year growth strategy.
The law firm has consistently smashed its forecasts throughout the last four-year period as it emerged from the pandemic, resulting in achieving its first three-year plans within two years. Now, as the 2024-25 financial year gets underway, Swinburne Maddison continues its bold strategies for the future, which will see the firm strengthening its position as one of the northern region’s leading law firms, making further investment in marketing and IT to ensure a high standard of client satisfaction together with expanding its footprint within the agricultural, social housing and banking and finance sectors.
In the meantime, committed to encouraging and supporting the bright young stars of the future, the seven new appointments, which feature two promotions to managing associate level as well as five associates, celebrate the meritocracy at the heart of Swinburne Maddison’s culture.
To that end, Charlotte Excell and Lewis Brown have both been made managing associates – Charlotte within the commercial property team and Lewis within dispute resolution.
Charlotte joined Swinburne Maddison when newly qualified (NQ) in 2018. She has recently been shortlisted as an ‘emerging property person of the year’ for the Insider North East Property Awards and as a rising star’ at the Northern Law Awards 2024.
Lewis, who also qualified in 2018, joined Swinburne Maddison in 2020. Lewis was shortlisted as a ‘young lawyer of the year’ for the Insider North East Young Professional Awards 2023 and also shortlisted as a ‘rising star’ at the Northern Law Awards 2024.
The five solicitors promoted to associate level are: Matt Ray, who has been promoted within the corporate team; the highly experienced Diane Hall, who has been promoted within the commercial property team; Phoebe Gogarty who has been made associate in the employment team, having played a pivotal role in developing and launching smartHR, Swinburne Maddison’s innovative employment and fixed retainer scheme; and within the dispute resolution team Jenna Keir-Kendrew and James Curran have both been promoted.
These cross-departmental promotions have been awarded due to the hard work and achievements of the individuals. Each year, the firm opens applications for promotion and individuals are encouraged to apply against certain criteria which span legal expertise to the contribution each has made to achieving management goals.
Managing Partner, Jonathan Moreland, is proud of the firm’s open and inclusive culture, which positively encourages career progression and rewards those who have consistently gone above and beyond to deliver excellent client service. He said:
“Each of these seven members of the team has worked hard for their promotion, which in all cases, is well-deserved and will assure the future resilience of the firm.
“Our management team is always considering succession planning and we expect to make several new external appointments during the coming financial year. In fact, we currently have several new positions live on our website across a variety of teams. There is so much
opportunity at Swinburne Maddison for those who can demonstrate first class client experience - of course, it also helps to be technically brilliant and highly motivated!”
Jonathan continued: “We want our people to do well – we will never stifle talent. Nor will we reject a strong speculative application - if we do not have an appropriate role for the right individual, we are proactive and will find a position. We operate with a culture of meritocracy at Swinburne Maddison and for those who are keen to progress, the opportunities are boundless.”
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