A law firm has appointed a new leader for its Birmingham office. Fieldfisher has promoted Ranjit Dhindsa after she joined the practice in 2016 following its merger with Birmingham commercial boutique firm Hill Hofstetter.
A member of Fieldfisher's executive committee since 2018, Ms Dhindsa will continue to lead the firm's practice as UK head of employment, pensions, immigration and compliance alongside her new leadership duties.
She was until recently an active member of the council at Aston University, sitting on its audit and risk committee, and is a special advisor to Birmingham food business Miss Macaroon. Her previous experience includes spells with law firms Reed Smith and Eversheds.
She said: "I am extremely proud and excited to be serving as our new Birmingham office leader and to further contribute to the economy of our fast-growing and hugely ambitious region."
Shoosmiths has promoted Jill Briggs to real estate partner in its Birmingham office.
She acts for housebuilders in the acquisition of development sites, strategic options, promotion agreements and regeneration schemes on a nationwide basis.
Ms Briggs is part of wider promotions across the practice nationally which has seen a total of eight new partners, 12 legal directors and principle associates appointed.
Shakespeare Martineau has unveiled new heads of its West Midlands offices.
Dispute resolution partner James Woolstenhulme will take on the role in Birmingham, the firm's largest hub, supported by deputy Joanna Lee-Mills, a social housing development partner.
Corporate partner Andrew Smith will retain his position of head of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Solihull hubs for a further three years.
Mr Woolstenhulme, who qualified as a solicitor with Shakespeare Martineau in 2011 and was promoted to partner in 2016, specialises in managing and resolving complex disputes through the courts and deploying alternative dispute resolution.
He also represents clients in international arbitrations. Ms Lee-Mills joined the firm in early 2022 to head up its social housing development team.
Prior to this, she worked at Anthony Collins Solicitors as a department leader for the built environment team.
Mr Smith, who joined Shakespeare Martineau in 2009, is a corporate lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience working with clients, including start-ups, SMEs and multinational companies on a variety of business matters.
He is also a member of Shakespeare Martineau's education sector team.
Managing director Victoria Tester said: "Our office heads reflect the potential of the West Midlands market and the breadth of services we provide in the region.
"We look forward to Andrew and James, supported by Joanna, unlocking that potential by working closely with our leaders and people to continue to evolve our West Midlands hubs' dynamic culture and positive environment."
Brierley Hill-based practice Higgs has announced the promotion of eight lawyers.
Claire Whittall, Darrell Aldridge, Ellie Norton, Georgia Stott, Rachael Watkins, Scott Vanes and Zahra Farooq have all been promoted to senior associate. Emily Parkes has been promoted to principal associate.
