Forsters’ expands its family team with two new partner hires
Forsters has expanded its Family team with the lateral hire of partner Simon Blain from Penningtons Manches LLP and Matthew Brunsdon Tully from 1 Hare Court. Simon joined the firm today, taking the total partnership to 57 and the Family team to three partners and eight fee earners. Matthew will arrive in the summer.
Simon and Matthew’s recruitment is part of Forsters’ ongoing strategy to invest in its top-ranked Private Wealth practice and comes after a period of significant growth for the Family team. Jo Edwards joined and became head of the team three years ago as she ended a high profile term as Chair of national family lawyers’ organisation Resolution, and highly regarded rising star Rosie Schumm followed a year later. They and their talented team of associates have generated revenue growth of 75% in two years.
With a burgeoning practice, the recruitment of two further partners will enable the team to service the large number of HNW/UHNW clients the team is now routinely referred. Serving both domestic and international clients, the Family team is at the heart of the firm’s wider Private Wealth offering.
Simon’s practice encompasses complex financial cases, family businesses and clients who have assets in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, he is an acknowledged expert in international surrogacy law and he will continue to expand this significant practice area.
As a barrister, Matthew’s focus will be to build upon his wide network of contacts to establish a practice that targets clients in the following sectors: sports, media, politics and the arts. He has a particular interest in pre-and post-nuptial agreements and his work in this area will be informed by his ability to bring a barrister’s perspective to client work.
Jo Edwards, Head of Family comments: “We are thrilled to welcome Simon and Matthew, whom Rosie and I admire hugely, to the team. Both Simon and Matthew are impressive lawyers, much loved by the in-the-know clients who instruct them, with an insightful, modern approach to family matters. Their addition to the team is a clear signal of our intention to continue to build on our practice in line with the demands of our growing client base, focusing on the full array of family law services they request.”
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