Tag Archive for: Staff

Adams Harrison enjoyed their 2023 Christmas party at the Hilton Hotel Cambridge on Saturday 9th December.

Lovely food and excellent service! A great time was had by all.

The Partners are delighted to announce that Emma Bilsborrow was promoted to Partner on 1^st July 2023.

Emma joined Adams Harrison on 27^th February 2023 and took over as Head of the Family Department on 1st June 2023 following the retirement of Shoshana Goldhill, after 37 years at the firm.

Emma is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (FCILEX) and has 14 years post qualification experience in family/matrimonial law. She has a wealth of experience in advising clients on all aspects of divorce and separation including children’s and financial issues.   She advises on the division of property (in the UK and abroad) including pensions and has particular expertise in High net worth cases.  Emma is a Member of Resolution which is a community of family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way. If, however, a family or matrimonial dispute cannot be resolved amicably or by mediation then Emma also has experience in dealing with litigious matters in the Court arena.

The Partners of the firm are:

Jack Stewart

Jennifer Carpenter

Richard Booth

Melanie Pratlett

Emma Bilsborrow

The partners are delighted to announce that Kerri has been approved as a Chartered Legal Executive.

Adams Harrison considers that internal progression is an important part of the culture of the firm and Kerri is an example of the opportunities available, having joined the firm after finishing school and working up through the ranks.

Kerri became a graduate legal executive in 2015 and formally became a fee earner in 2016.

She has 6 years’ experience already and is well-versed in handling complex cases but the fellowship with the Institute of Legal Executives was delayed due to the pandemic and associated factors. The partners are delighted that she has finally received this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations Kerri!

The Partners are delighted to announce that Jack Stewart was promoted to Partner with effect from 1^st January 2023.

The Partnership Team comprises: Jennifer Carpenter, Melanie Pratlett, Shoshana Goldhill, Richard Booth and Jack Stewart.

100 years ago the first woman was admitted to the Law Society of England & Wales.

In fact the following momentous achievements for women all happened in 1922:
• Dr Ivy Williams was the first woman to be called to the Bar in May 1922. She did not practice as a barrister but became the first woman to teach law at an English university.
• Helena Normanton became the first woman to practice as a barrister in England. Helena was called to the Bar in November 1922 and went on to become the first female counsel in cases at the High Court of Justice, and the first woman to obtain a divorce for a client.
• Carrie Morrison became the first woman admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in December 1922. Maud Crofts, Mary Elizabeth Pickup and Mary Elaine Sykes also passed their Law Finals Examination at the same time but Carrie was the first to complete her articles and be admitted to the Law Society Roll.

The fight for equality in the legal profession actually started decades earlier. It was in 1878 that Janet Wood became the first woman to complete a law degree in the UK. Even then women were only permitted to take a ‘Special Exam for Women’ which was offered as an alternative to the men’s degree exam.

Some 100 or more years later the fight for equality in the legal profession continues and every year all women in the profession celebrate new milestones for equality and diversity.
• In 2017 Lady Hale was appointed the first woman President of the UK Supreme Court.
• In 2018 the Supreme Court saw its first female-majority panel hear a case – with Lady Hale, Lady Black and Lady Arden sitting as three out of five judges to hear the case re D.
• In 2019 Elizabeth Johnson became the first female chartered legal executive to be appointed a judge.

At Adams Harrison we are proud of our balance of male and female leaders

In December 2022:
• The firm is owned by an all-female partnership, comprising Shoshana Goldhill; Melanie Pratlett and Jennifer Carpenter. Other partners include Richard Booth and, as of 1st January 2022, we welcome Jack Stewart as a partner.
• Equality and Diversity is integral to our working practices and recruitment plans
• As at December we are made up of:
• Six female and four male qualified lawyers
• Two female unqualified lawyers
• One female and one male trainee solicitors
• One female practice manager

There are more achievements to be made for equality and diversity in the legal profession and we are excited to be part of the journey.