Appointing 10 Newly Qualified Solicitors 

10 newly qualified solicitors have been appointed following the successful completion of their training contracts, continuing our commitment to supporting the future of the legal profession and creating opportunities for talented individuals to build successful careers.

Freya Whiteside has qualified into the commercial services team, while Afrin Nanavatti, Maria Sharpe and Jonah Cooke have qualified into the employment team. Govind Johal and Justin Clegg have joined the restructuring and insolvency team, with Svitlana Harkusha in the Commercial Litigation team, and Sinead Pow qualifying into the Scotland team. Rebecca Sault has qualified into the commercial real estate team, while Lisa Bauroth has joined the tax team.

Victoria Tester, managing director, said: “We are proud to see our trainees qualify as solicitors and continue their careers with us. Qualification is an important milestone in any legal career, and each of them has demonstrated considerable commitment, ambition and professionalism throughout their training.

“As a firm, we have an important role to play in shaping the future of the legal profession. Our responsibility extends beyond individual careers; it is about ensuring the profession continues to attract talented people with different experiences and perspectives, and that they have the opportunity to build successful careers.

“Freya, Afrin, Govind, Justin, Svitlana, Sinead, Maria, Jonah, Rebecca and Lisa have each made a valuable contribution to the firm during their training. We look forward to seeing them build on the strong foundations they have established and make their mark as qualified solicitors, contributing to the continued success of our clients, our people and the wider profession.”

We offer multiple routes to legal qualification, including traditional training contracts, SQE graduate apprenticeships, self-funded SQE pathways and CILEx options, assessing candidates based on their potential and suitability for the role rather than solely on academic qualifications.

For further information about our training contract programme and routes to legal qualification, please visit www.shma.co.uk/careers/early-careers.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to address the circumstances of any individual or entity, nor should it be relied upon as a substitute for specific advice from a qualified solicitor. The information reflects the legal position as at the date specified and may be subject to change. If you require advice on a specific matter, please contact us directly.