A LEADING North-East law firm is promoting two Tyne Valley solicitors to senior positions within the company.

Rachel Swinburne and Katy Rushworth, of Newcastle-based Clarke Mairs LLP, are being named as partners in recognition of their dedication to the firm and the successful development of their departments.

Rachel, who lives near Bardon Mill, joined Clarke Mairs in February 2013 to bolster the firm’s private client division, and advises clients on all aspects of wills and estate planning, trusts, succession planning and inheritance tax.

Clarke Mairs launched its private client department in 2010 to offer expert advice about personal matters to its commercial clients.

Since joining the company, Rachel has continually grown the department’s case load through a combination of internal and external referrals, and a new solicitor will shortly be joining the firm to help meet demand.

“It’s lovely to have been given this recognition, and I feel very privileged to be joining the other partners in what is such an intelligent, hardworking team,” said Rachel.

Katy, who specialises in leasehold enfranchisement and joined Clarke Mairs as a trainee in 2007, is also becoming a partner at the firm.

She acts almost exclusively for landlords and tenants in the exercise of rights under leasehold enfranchisement legislation and is a member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners.

Katy also lives in Bardon Mill and now leads a team of three, including a trainee solicitor.

“In February, I will be marking 10 years since I began my career at Clarke Mairs as a trainee, so this is a very exciting time for me to become a partner,” she said.

“I have several plans in the pipeline for our department, including the development of our website, to make it more interactive and user friendly. “