Global law firm Eversheds Sutherland has announced four promotions to partner in its Manchester office for 2020: Lizzy Tindall, Corporate, Robert Gray, Employment, Phil Duignan, Commercial Dispute Resolution and Claire Randall-Smith, Litigation Construction.

In total, Eversheds Sutherland promoted 38 new partners across the UK, Europe, Asia and South African networks this year, with 16 partner promotions in the Company Commercial practice group, nine in Litigation and Disputes, five in Real Estate and seven in Human Resources.

A total of 16 of these promotions are female which is in line with Eversheds Sutherland’s goal to achieve 30% female representation at partner level by 2021.

Michael Clavell-Bate, Senior Office Partner, Manchester commented:

“We congratulate our hugely talented colleagues on their promotions to the firm’s partnership. We are currently operating in a uniquely challenging global environment, but I know that Lizzy, Robert, Phil and Claire will continue to deliver excellence in client service as they take this significant step in their careers. With our Manchester team also scheduled to move to a new office early next year, we are in an exciting new phase in our global growth story.”

Meet Eversheds Sutherland’s new Manchester partners:

Lizzy Tindall, Corporate

Lizzy advises clients on a broad spectrum of corporate matters, specialising in private equity and M&A transactions.Recent experience includes advising the Co-Operative Bank on its £157 million disposal of a subsidiary property holding company, Urban Splash on its joint venture with Sekisui House and Homes England, H2 Equity Partners on its investments into NRS Healthcare (and on its subsequent sale), Search Recruitment, Cadogan Tate and Aquilant, Sovereign Capital on its investments into Utility Bidder and Premier Park and NorthEdge on its take private of Catalis.

Robert Gray, Employment

Robert advises employers across a full range of contentious and non-contentious issues including redundancy and restructuring, TUPE, collective and trade union issues, senior terminations, discrimination and equality issues, employment-related DPA/FOIA issues, 'atypical' working models and whistleblowing. Robert has a strong focus on the education sector and acts for a number of national and international education providers.

Phil Duignan, Commercial Dispute Resolution

Phil specialises in acting in high value and complex litigation, and has particular expertise in advising on shareholder disputes, warranty claims, professional negligence actions, contractual disputes, procurement matters and both the bringing of and responding to applications for injunctive relief. Phil has extensive expertise in acting in business protection litigation and is highly experienced in advising on taking urgent action to enforce employer's rights and protect sensitive confidential information, and also defending employees and businesses in respect of the same. Phil is ranked as an Acritas Star Lawyer and as a “Rising Star” for Commercial Litigation in the Legal 500.

Claire Randall-Smith, Litigation Construction

Claire is a construction litigator specialising in the resolution and avoidance of high value, technically complex, construction and engineering disputes with experience of litigation, adjudication, mediation, domestic and international arbitration. Claire acts for employers, contractors, and subcontractors across a wide range of projects including large-scale infrastructure projects, energy and utility projects.