New partner proves Manchester ambition
Published: 12:48PM BST 22 Apr 2010
Partner and personal injury specialist Debra Woolfson becomes the first non-Lender Services Group employee at the Spinningfields office.
Her appointment comes two months after Shoosmiths announced it would go full service in Manchester, just a year after opening in the city in January 2009.
Partner and head of consumer services Judith Dorkins said: "Having said we'd go full service ahead of schedule many people expected appointments in other corporate areas, ones that would naturally complement our lender services offering.
"But when someone of Debra's calibre becomes available you're almost obliged to strike while the iron's hot, and if we're able to develop our personal injury work sooner rather than later then we'll do it. The opportunity presented itself and we've grabbed it with both hands."
Woolfson, who joins from Manchester's Pannone, has been running a varied caseload of personal injury claims, including amputation claims, fatal accidents and non-fatal road traffic collision cases, disease claims, and professional negligence claims with a personal injury element.
She said: "I have strong business development skills, so to be able to join Shoosmiths at this exciting time is a perfect chance for me to help grow its presence here, and in an area that will also enable it to diversify its offering more quickly."
Access Legal from Shoosmiths was launched on February 1 and offers more than 100 legal services to consumers under seven headings: conveyancing; employment law; personal injury; legal disputes; medical negligence; motoring law; and wills, family and wealth.
It is among corporate, commercial, commercial property, employment, restructuring and insolvency, and regulatory services that Shoosmiths aims to offer from its 3 Hardman Street base.
approachable and
dependable as well
as professional"
Judith Dorkins,
Head of Access Legal
