Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire based Taylor Walton Solicitors, has announced three new partners in the firm’s latest round of promotions, reflecting an increasing workload across its three offices.
The new partners are Julma Begum, a member of the Commercial Real Estate team, Sharon Mackenzie of the Residential Property team and Nicola Smyrl, who joined Taylor Walton as a trainee solicitor in 2007 and qualified into the Employment Department in 2009.
Stephanie Simon, the firm’s People & Talent Partner commented: “It has been an eventful and busy eighteen months, but our people have pulled together to deliver the outcomes our clients need in this most challenging of times for businesses and families.
“Taylor Walton has always sought to nurture the talent within the business, to bring through individuals whose careers have been shaped by the culture and ethos of our firm, reflecting the value we place on the individual as a whole, not just their talent as a lawyer.
“Nicola is a great example of someone who has progressed her career with the firm and now stepped up to partner, with responsibility not just to deliver for our clients, but to mentor the next generation of legal talent.
“Julma and Sharon have both not only demonstrated they have the requisite skills in their respective disciplines, but that they have a clear understanding of what Taylor Walton as a law firm is trying to achieve, which bodes well for our future.
“We are investing time, effort and resources to ensure our people become all they can be. And singling out individuals like Julma, Sharon and Nicola for partner, readily demonstrates our approach to promotion is based entirely on merit, not time served.”
Taylor Walton, a firm that traces its roots in the region back more than 150 years, provides a full range of legal services to business, families and individuals, from offices in Luton, St. Albans and Harpenden, delivered by 170 dedicated legal professionals.
New partner, Nicola Smyrl said of her promotion: “Having enjoyed my training contract so much with the firm and secured a role on qualification, I knew it was the firm where I wanted to develop my long term career.
“It is immensely gratifying to be made partner in the Employment Department at a time when the firm is growing, with a simple strategic plan built on strong relationships and a practical, client centric approach.
“Taylor Walton provides a true partner-led service and I’m proud to be part of this successful approach, that’s focussed on delivering a high quality service to every client, no matter the challenge they face, at work, at home or in life.”