Shakespeare Martineau announces 17 promotions

National law firm for life and business Shakespeare Martineau has announced 17 promotions across a variety of teams and locations.

Effective May 2026, the firm has promoted three people to partner, one person to legal director, five people to senior associate and eight people to associate.

Promoted to partner are real estate finance experts Afreen Cole and Hannah Pickering, and debt and asset recovery specialist Katrina Gibson.

• Afreen works across commercial and residential property finance, advising lenders on due diligence, title reporting and the drafting of facility documentation. She has particular expertise in Islamic finance.
• Hannah advises lenders and borrowers on a wide range of property finance transactions including development lending, portfolio refinancing and Islamic finance.
• Katrina has operational responsibility across contracts within the debt and asset recovery team, including onboarding, performance tracking and service levels.

Employment solicitor Lubna Laheria has been promoted to legal director. Lubna advises employers on HR issues and employment tribunal litigation, including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims. Lubna also specialises in corporate support work.

• New senior associates are residential conveyancer Raza Ali; real estate finance specialist Ian Cole; real estate disputes lawyer Selica Khan; legal planning expert Josh Morley; and family lawyer Deanna Phillips-Mills.
• Raza advises individuals and companies on the sale, purchase and refinancing of freehold and leasehold property. He has also started to specialise in Islamic finance and Building Safety Act matters.
• With more than a decade of experience in property law, Ian plays a central role in supporting key client relationships and leading major process innovation and transformation initiatives.
• Selica advises on complex land and landlord and tenant disputes, including restrictive covenants, lease renewals and Building Safety Act matters.
• Josh specialises in planning law, advising clients on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters including planning obligations, appeals and judicial review.
• Deanna is a family lawyer, advising clients on divorce, complex financial settlements and children matters. She also advises on pre- and post-nuptial agreements as part of clients’ overall wealth protection.

Promoted to associate level are commercial real estate specialists Sukhpal Bhamrah and Jacob Hanson; William Corbett in the managed legal services team; tax expert Stefanos Giailidis; real estate disputes expert Ishtar Golant; banking expert Lauren Green; Ryan McNally in the debt and asset recovery team; and commercial litigator Katherine Richards.

Victoria Tester, managing director at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Our people are at the heart of everything we do and their development remains one of our most important priorities as a firm. These promotions reflect the breadth of talent across Shakespeare Martineau and the continued investment we make in supporting colleagues at every stage of their careers.

“It is always a pleasure to see individuals progress in this way, taking on new responsibilities and continuing to grow their impact across the business. Congratulations to all those who have achieved this well-earned recognition.”

Top to bottom, left to right – Afreen Cole, Hannah Pickering, Katrina Gibson, Lubna Laheria, Raza Ali, Ian Cole, Selica Khan, Josh Morley, Deanna Phillips-Mills, Sukhpal Bhamrah, Jacob Hanson, William Corbett, Stefanos Giailidis, Ishtar Golant, Lauren Green, Ryan McNally, Katherine Richards

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.