UK top 50 law firm Birketts has added to its specialist ecclesiastical team with the appointments of Patti Russell and Ann Beswick.
From 1 September, Patti joins the firm’s Partnership, while Ann will continue to support Patti as Registry Clerk.
With particular expertise in high-profile and complex external reviews, safeguarding and clergy discipline cases, Patti is recognised for her work on sensitive and strategically significant matters across the Church of England.
Patti’s arrival means that Birketts gains two further dioceses where Patti is Registrar – Canterbury and Rochester. The addition means that Birketts now hosts the registries of the Dioceses of Norwich, St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich, London, Guildford, Exeter, Canterbury and Rochester.
On her arrival at Birketts, Patti Russell said: “I am excited to join Birketts, a firm that is both ambitious and visionary in its approach to growth and client service. The firm’s collaborative culture and impressive depth of expertise across areas such as charity law, employment, real estate, and dispute resolution provide an outstanding platform from which to support church clients. I look forward to supporting the continued growth of the Birketts ecclesiastical practice, particularly its cathedral, safeguarding and clergy HR offering.”
On the ecclesiastical team’s expansion, Parter and Head of Ecclesiastical at Birketts, Kevin Wilson, added: “I am delighted to welcome Patti and Ann to our growing Ecclesiastical team. Their arrival demonstrates the strength of Birketts’ expertise and reputation in this highly specialist and complex area of the law. With Patti and Ann on board we are significantly enhancing our ability to advise and support clergy and church officers, across parishes, dioceses, cathedrals and national church institutions, while further strengthening our position as a leading legal adviser to the Church of England.”
For more information of Birketts’ Ecclesiastical expertise, visit https://birketts-ecclesiastical.co.uk/.
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