Ward Hadaway announces new executive partner in Manchester office

Top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway has made a key senior leadership appointment within its North West team based in Manchester.

Liz Bottrill has been named Executive Partner, taking over from Paul Johnson. Paul is stepping down after seven years in the role to focus on the further development of the corporate team in Manchester with fellow partners Sean FitzGerald and Melanie Yeomans, as well as his position as President of the Manchester Law Society.

With over 30 years’ experience, Liz Bottrill takes the reins after joining the firm in March 2020 from the Manchester office of Laytons. Recognised as an expert in the field of family law, Liz is joint head of the firm’s family and matrimonial team, alongside Christine Barker.

Martin Hulls, Managing Partner of Ward Hadaway, said: “I would like to give my sincere thanks to Paul for his excellent leadership over the last seven years. He was the office’s first Executive Partner and has been pivotal during a period of significant growth. He has guided the Manchester team as they adapted to a Covid-shaped environment, and has ensured the team has continued to innovate, progress and successfully navigate an ever-challenging landscape.

” I warmly welcome Liz to the role and I’m confident that her experience and expertise, along with her dynamism, empathy and good judgement she has shown since she joined us two years ago, will drive the Manchester office forward with energy into the next phase of its growth.

“We remain focused on, and committed to, excellent client service, employee health and wellbeing, and being actively engaged in our local communities. The potential for growth within the North West market is huge, and I look forward to seeing the Manchester team developing under Liz’s stewardship.”

The appointment of Liz as Executive Partner follows Emma Digby’s appointment, who recently became Executive Partner of Ward Hadaway’s Leeds office, covering the wider Yorkshire region.

Liz added: “I have some very big shoes to fill as I take over the reins from Paul, but I can’t wait to get started. As a group of partners which has more than doubled over the last two and a half years, we’ve worked extremely well together as a team to get through the enormous challenges of the pandemic. I want to harness this commitment, tenacity and experience as we look to the future, and continue to build on our rapid growth and development in Manchester and the wider region.

Liz will continue to perform her day-to-day role as an active partner in the Family Law and Matrimonial Manchester team, where she regularly advises clients in relation to divorce and cohabitation issues, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and financial solutions, issues relating to children, and surrogacy arrangements.

About Ward Hadaway LLP

• Ward Hadaway LLP operates from three offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle
• More than 450 members of staff including 97 partners
• UK Top 100 law firm
• Rated as one of the leading law firms in the country by independent legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners
• Ward Hadaway LLP is a full service law firm, meeting all the legal needs of five core client groups – entrepreneurs and businesses, the built environment sector, healthcare, public and third sector including education, and private individuals
• For more information, please visit www.wardhadaway.com

Media contact:

For media enquiries regarding Ward Hadaway LLP, please contact Rachel McBryde at McBryde & Co on 07884 342 193 or email [email protected]

For Ward Hadaway LLP’s built environment sector including housing, construction and social housing, please contact Craig Downs at Up North Communications on 07811 287 922 or email [email protected]