Ellisons Solicitors, a leading law firm in Suffolk and Essex, has bolstered its dispute resolution department by appointing three world-class partners: Claire Kitchen, partner and head of commercial litigation; Adam McCaw, insolvency and debt recovery partner and Kay Baker, contested wills, trusts and probate partner.

The appointment of three new partners brings the total number of Ellisons’ dispute resolution team to 34, and includes specialists dealing with property, insolvency, construction, contentious probate and commercial disputes.

Based in Chelmsford, Claire Kitchen specialises in multi-jurisdictional high value dispute resolution and has been involved with several high profile and international commercial litigation cases. Prior to Ellisons, Claire was a partner at Hodge Jones and Allen and has considerable experience defending and pursuing cases involving fraud and dishonesty as well as responding to and procuring Worldwide Freezing Orders, and other injunctive relief.

Throughout her career, Claire has been the lead adviser in several reported cases and has also acted in many cases involving harassment and defamation. She is a member of the Fraud Lawyers Association and a qualified mediator.

Adam McCaw, who is based in Bury St Edmunds, is ranked as a leading individual in the Legal 500 and a notable practitioner in Chambers and Partners guides to the legal profession.  Before joining Ellisons Solicitors, Adam worked as a director at a specialist insolvency and restructuring practice.  Adam is a first rate and diligent insolvency litigator with a wealth of experience advising on specialist insolvency cases, acting for insolvency office-holders, directors and other stakeholders in insolvent situations.

Adam also has a vast experience in advising directors and stakeholders in companies that are impacted by financial issues on corporate recovery and turnaround procedures including Company Voluntary Arrangements, Voluntary and Compulsory Liquidations and Administrations and advises office-holders on issues arising during the course of their insolvency appointments. He is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner (being one of a small number of solicitors in the East of England to hold this qualification) and a member of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.

Kay Baker is both a skilful and diligent succession and trusts lawyer, with an amazing ability to keep several balls in the air at the same time. Kay qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and has worked in Essex and Suffolk ever since. Kay initially dealt with a mix of non-contentious and contentious trust and probate work before deciding to specialise in purely contentious probate work. Kay is an accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator, a full member of STEP and ACTAPS as well as a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly, ensuring all clients are treated with respect and dignity.

Lee Pearce, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, said: “I am delighted to further strengthen the Dispute Resolution Team with Claire, Adam and Kay, all specialists in their respective fields. Their appointment will have a very positive impact upon the team, our existing and new clients, and such strength in depth will enable us to maintain the trusted advisor role that we strive to achieve.”

Topics