A CITY law firm has announced 26 promotions across six of its nine offices.

Wills, trusts and estates specialist Tom Murphy-Kirkhope, based in Cheltenham, becomes a partner – he said: “I’m obviously delighted by this promotion; I have been with HCR for eight years and have had great opportunities to develop my career here.

"The current situation is difficult for so many people, raising all kinds of issues around their plans for the future, and I’m glad that I can help people through it.”

Richard Knight, senior partner, said: “This is one of our most significant rounds of promotions – we are very fortunate to have such a wealth of talent and commitment within the firm and we want to make sure that our colleagues at all levels are rewarded for their professionalism and dedication. I congratulate all of them.”

Taking up the position of legal director, which enables senior associates to develop their technical, specialist or sector-related skills at a higher level, are:

• Georgina Burrows (family law, Birmingham)

• Maxine Reid (family law, Hereford)

• Nick Gova (family law, London)

• Helen Higginbotham (corporate, Worcester)

• Caroline Leviss (corporate, Worcester)

• Stephenie Malone (corporate, Worcester)

• Patricia MacKenzie (commercial, Worcester)

• Hayley Phelps (restructuring & insolvency, Worcester)

• Tom Williams (dispute resolution, Worcester)

• Guy Hollebon (employment, Wye Valley

• Freddie Govier Wright (real estate, Wye Valley)

Moving up to senior associate are five lawyers – Adam Barrett and Kate Hallifax from the Cheltenham dispute resolution team, Alex Wilson (family law) and Laura Greenman (real estate) based in the Wye Valley office and Roz Gergees in the London restructuring and insolvency team.

Two others are moving up to become associates in Worcester:

• Eimir Tuckett (real estate)

• Lara Wilkinson (wills, trusts and estates)