A new Equity Partner and employee elevations for Burnetts Solicitors LLP

We are proud to announce that our Head of Medical Negligence and Serious Injury (MNSI) Spencer Knaggs has become an Equity Partner. Spencer is a specialist in serious injury cases with over 25 years of experience. He joined us in 2017 and has since led the team to establish Burnetts Solicitors LLP as the preeminent provider of legal advice in Medical Negligence and Serious Injury cases across Cumbria and the North East, as well as further afield. We are pleased with Spencer’s decision to join the Partnership and are immensely looking forward to working with him.

Honouring our long-standing history of nurturing local talent, we are proud to announce that this year will see a host of employee elevations across a range of departments. Our MNSI team will see Michelle Armstrong and Paul Brown elevated to the role of Salaried Partner, while Diane Barnes of our Agribusiness team will be promoted to the role of Legal Director. Johnny Coulthard of our Dispute Resolution team and Vikki Porthouse of our Family team have both been promoted to Senior Associates and Alex McAll of our Wills, Trusts and Probate team have been promoted to the role of Associate. Finally, Sara Riddlesden of our Banking team and Rachel Johnstone of our Agribusiness team have both been promoted to the role of Paralegal.

Michelle Armstrong and Paul Brown are both specialist solicitors and now Partners in our Medical Negligence and Serious Injury team based in Newcastle. Both have extensive knowledge and experience; they are also both accredited by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners legal guides, as well as being highly respected within the community.

Diane Barnes works within our Agribusiness team and is from a Cumbrian farming family herself. She specialises in agricultural land, tenancies and property sales, and is dual qualified in English and Scottish law.

Johnny Coulthard is part of our Dispute Resolution team and specialises in contentious private client work with a focus on Contentious Trust, Probate and Inheritance Disputes. Johnny is one of the few solicitors in North England to be recommended in the Legal 500 for his expertise in Contentious Trust and Probate claims. Also promoted to Senior Associate is Vikki Porthouse in our Family team based in our Cockermouth office. Vikki advises clients on all aspects of divorce, matrimonial finances, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and cases involving children.

Alex McAll of our Wills, Trusts and Probate team specialises in state administration, Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorney and has been promoted to Associate. While Sara Riddlesden is now our Banking department Paralegal who supports the team on all of their deals, drafting documents and reports, as well as Companies House applications. Also promoted to Paralegal is Rachel Johnstone in our Agribusiness team who supports agricultural clients on buying and selling farms or land, plus any Land Registry issues.

Managing Partner Nick Gutteridge said of the promotions: “We are proud to announce this year’s promotions and to demonstrate that hard work is always rewarded. We are also looking forward to working alongside Spencer Knaggs as our newest Equity Partner. We are privileged to work with some fantastic people who have made the firm what it is today. We are looking forward to the future and strive to continue to nurture local talent within our organisation to ensure everyone can thrive.”