Duo of hires supports London litigation team’s growth strategy

As part of our ambitious growth strategy, we have appointed two new partners to our litigation team – bringing with them a combined total of more than 60 years’ post-qualified experience.

Vanessa Joll, who has joined the firm as head of real estate disputes, has a wide-ranging property litigation practice, with niche specialisms in development disputes and property-related professional negligence claims, while Mark Rondel has particular expertise in commercial disputes, having conducted litigation in a number of substantial commercial disputes.

Both partners will be primarily based at Shakespeare Martineau’s London hub, but working with clients nationally.

With more than 23 years’ experience, Vanessa joins the firm from DMH Stallard. She is known for working closely with her investor, developer and local authority clients to provide strategic advice on issues within their investment portfolios and resolving their disputes through both litigation and mediation.

Vanessa said: “I am excited to have joined Shakespeare Martineau at a time when it is continuing its fast pace of growth and development, which I am looking forward to playing my part in. I was attracted to the forward-thinking approach of the senior management team and their desire to modernise the way law firms are run.

“In my new role, I am looking forward to using my knowledge and connections in London and the wider South East region to develop growth in this area for Shakespeare Martineau, while also building the property litigation practice and team nationally.”

Mark – who has more than 37 years’ experience – joins Shakespeare Martineau from EMW Law, where he spent the past 14 years as a London-based partner. He has a broad commercial litigation background, with recognised expertise in warranty claims, shareholder disputes, claims against directors, including disqualification proceedings, more general contractual disputes, and professional negligence claims against solicitors.

Historically, he acted for Dragons Den entrepreneur Levi Roots in a claim relating to his Reggae Reggae Sauce. Most recently, he acted for taxi app FREE NOW in a judicial review application, brought by United Trade Action Group Ltd (a black cab trade association).

Mark said: “I am delighted to have joined Shakespeare Martineau in London, and I am looking forward to being part of the ongoing development and growth of the firm’s offering and reputation as a pre-eminent supplier of legal services in the South East market, particularly in dispute resolution.

“I knew from an early stage in my training that I wanted to be a litigation solicitor. My favourite part of my role is delivering positive results for clients, which may be simply winning cases or, in some situations, attaining the commercial or strategic goal the client is seeking to achieve through the litigation process.”

Vanessa and Mark’s appointments are the latest in a string of new partner hires as part of our growth strategy, broadening our footprint in the south. The firm is proactively seeking talented people to join the firm on the growth journey, including mergers, team recruitment and lateral hires nationally.

Barry Jervis, partner and head of litigation at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Both Vanessa and Mark are excellent litigators with fantastic reputations, so we are very excited about them joining the firm. Their arrivals will bolster our capabilities and cement our reputation in London and the South East.”