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Charles Russell Speechlys Partner Promotions 2024

Charles Russell Speechlys announces two individuals promoted to Partner, effective 1 May 2024, in addition to two Legal Directors and 23 Senior Associate promotions.

Commenting on the news, Bart Peerless, Senior Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, said:

My warmest congratulations to our newly promoted Partners and Legal Directors. It is always a pleasure to welcome each new cohort of promotees, and it is particularly pleasing to see such a strong pipeline of talent with our 23 Senior Associate promotions this year. I wish them all the best for this next stage in their careers and am immensely excited about what the future holds for them as part of our Firm. 


These promotions follow a strong year of growth for the Firm. Since January 2023, we have welcomed 23 lateral hires to the Partnership across various practice groups, geographies and offices. Our growth enables us as a Firm to better respond to the ever-changing needs of our clients and keeps us on track to achieve our broader private capital strategic ambitions.

Our newly promoted Partners, Legal Directors and Senior Associates are:

Partner Promotions:

Ed Birrell – Private Wealth Disputes – UK

Ed joined the Firm in 2017. He advises UK and international clients on domestic and multi-jurisdictional private wealth and trust disputes, specialising in complex trust disputes with an international element or corporate asset base. In addition to his work advising trustees and beneficiaries, he is a core member of the pensions litigation team advising on construction and rectification issues as well as claims within pension schemes. Ed also deals with contentious landed estates matters.

Usman Khan – Real Estate – UK

Usman joined the Firm in 2016. He has extensive experience guiding clients through major property acquisitions, developments, and investment sales and regularly advises on property financing, sales at auction and more general landlord and tenant matters. His wide-ranging client base encompasses property developers, pension funds and retailers, as well as high net worth individuals and charities. 

Legal Director Promotions:

Tom Smitham – Corporate – UK 

Tom joined the Firm in 2005. He is an established corporate lawyer who advises private and public companies on a broad range of corporate transactional and advisory matters. His experience includes advising on acquisitions and disposals, private equity transactions, group restructurings, IPOs and fundraisings involving Official List and AIM-listed companies. Throughout the past 19 years at the Firm, Tom has become particularly active in the TMT, Private Wealth and Sport sectors.

Jonathan Rothwell - Tax, Trusts & Succession – UK

Jon joined the Firm in 2016. He has wide-ranging experience in all aspects of private client work and advises UK and international clients on tax, trust and succession planning matters. Jon has a particular focus on guiding internationally mobile HNW / UHNW clients (including those moving to the UK) through UK tax affairs and wider asset structuring.

Senior Associate Promotions:

Charles Russell Speechlys Switzerland has also strengthened its Family Law practice with the promotion of Sirin Yüce to Partner and Head of the Family team in Geneva, effective 1 July 2024.

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