Francesca joins as a partner and Head of Italian Desk, having advised Italian clients born or domiciled in the UK over many years. Francesca has deep experience in English/Italian matters and regularly manages private wealth on complex and high value matters including working with other professionals in resolving issues involving Italian assets and their transfer by inheritance.

She advises private clients on a full range of activities involving the management of movable and immovable assets, including conditional exemption of assets and foreign aspects of estate administration. She has a particular focus on cross-border issues and inheritance and tax advice for persons with international connections.

She also advises clients on UK estate planning, trusts and estate administration. 

Nicole Marmor, Partner and Head of Private Wealth at Sherrards said “I am thrilled to welcome Francesca to the Private Wealth Team. Her extensive expertise in Anglo-Italian matters not only strengthens our department’s expertise in cross-border succession matters, as recognized by leading legal directories, but will also foster collaboration across the firm to better serve our valued Italian clients”.

Paul Marmor, Head of International commented “It’s a real coup getting Francesca on board which consolidates our European reach alongside our French and German desks. This marks a new milestone, positioning us to assist European clients—especially those from Italy—in establishing and investing in the UK. Additionally, our unparalleled international network ensures exceptional support for clients seeking outbound opportunities.”

Commenting on her decision to join the firm Francesca added “I am excited to head our Italian desk and to have the opportunity to play a role in strengthening our international capabilities by delivering tailored advice and solutions to our Italian clients”.

Francesca’s appointment comes as part of ambitious growth plans for the Private Wealth team, as well as the wider firm, with a particular focus on expanding the range of specialisms provided to our client base. Francesca joins forces with our dynamic Private Wealth team led by Nicole Marmor, and recently promoted Partner Arthur Byng Nelson.

Paul Marmor, Partner, and Head of Dispute Resolution and International at Sherrards is the Senior Chair of the LFMC, and addressed attendees, outlining ambitious plans for the year ahead and highlighting strategies to navigate the evolving legal landscape.

The mission of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee is to be a leading global forum for the exchange of best practices in law practice leadership and management through sharing and discussing concepts, experience, knowledge and trends on practice management issues and topics. 

The conference featured a series of thought-provoking panels and discussions, thanks to the brilliant organisation by Anne MacDonald and David Patient.

Collaboration Across Borders

Delegates engaged with dynamic moderators and panellists, exploring innovations and challenges shaping the global legal profession. The event concluded with a drinks reception hosted by Gary Assim and Shoosmiths, providing an excellent networking opportunity.

The LFMC invites Lawyers and allied legal professionals worldwide to contribute to shaping the future of the legal profession. If you’d like to get involved, reach out to Paul Marmor, or have a look on the International Bar Association website. 

Through hard work, dedication, and determination, they have reached a significant milestone that not only represents the sum of their efforts but also serves as a powerful launching point for an exciting and promising new chapter in their legal careers. This achievement stands as a testament to their resilience and ambition, marking the start of a journey filled with opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the field of law.  To be able to achieve this whilst working is a testament to their determination.

Mark Fellows, Head of Employment & Immigration, commented, “Having joined the Employment and Immigration Team in September 2022, Rachael quickly established herself as a highly capable member of the team.  She has a very calm and measured approached to the very difficult and emotive situations that often arise within employment matters. I am delighted to see her reach the next stage of her career, and particularly thrilled she is qualifying as an employment lawyer in the team, where she has a very bright future”.

Paul Marmor, Head of Dispute Resolution, added, “Erin has joined our Property Litigation Unit where she is flying high combining her flair for both litigation and property matters for the benefit of our property focussed clients having established herself as a real stalwart of our department. We are very fortunate to have Erin on board.”

Sherrards Training Academy Partner, Asha Ngai commented, “It’s wonderful to see the Training Academy in action and to have two outstanding team members qualify and progress their careers as lawyers. We’re excited to support them on their journey to becoming Solicitors.”

Sherrards Solicitors and the Sherrards Training Academy is dedicated to nurturing young talent and creating meaningful career opportunities for individuals starting their journey in the legal profession.

About Sherrards

Sherrards is a law firm made up of talented lawyers and an excellent wider team that keeps the whole place running smoothly.

Our philosophy is to keep things straightforward. Advice is pragmatic and cases are handled with little fuss. We find this refreshingly obvious approach attracts clients tired of people making things more complicated than they need to be.

Our recognition reflects the dedication of our teams and the valuable feedback from our clients and key contacts. We would like to extend our gratitude to our clients and contacts who took the time to provide testimonials and participate in the Chambers and Partners process to help us achieve great results.

An Insight into Our 2025 Rankings

Litigation

Our Litigation team has maintained their high ranking for another consecutive year. The team’s experience in fraud, banking, and financial litigation cases as well as their knowledge in cross-jurisdiction matters remains a stand out feature. Clients comment that the teams “proficiency in handling complex matters is commendable. Their expertise, attention to detail and strategic approach instils confidence.”

Paul Marmor, Head of Litigation has received a Band 1 ranking, with clients commenting that he “demonstrates deep analysis and tries to find the best solution in the interest of the client.”

Karen Dobson, Partner in Dispute Resolution is also ranked, where her clients have highlighted her as “being down to earth, honest and diligent”, and “an amazing solicitor with exceptional knowledge of her field.”

Employment

Our Employment team continue to be ranked highly with clients highlighting “The team are highly experienced and knowledgeable and provide an excellent service.”

Head of Employment, Mark Fellows has once again been individually ranked, where he was described as “a great adviser – very strong and commercially aware.”

Corporate and Commercial

Our Corporate and Commercial team also received a great ranking in this years Chambers and Partners. One client has stated “The firm’s approachability, pragmatism, responsiveness and collaborative mentality are some of their core strengths,”

Head of Department, Leigh Head was once again recognised in this year’s submission, and individually ranked. One source commented that Leigh’s “commercial awareness is particularly strong and is something which sets him apart.”

Commercial Property

The Commercial Property team has also been ranked highly for another year, with Head of Department, Terry Fendt continuing to be ranked individually with one client commenting that Terry’s “commercial vision is very strong. He is a very good solicitor.”

These successes follow our ranking in the Chambers & Partners High Net Worth guide, earlier in the year where our Private Wealth team remain highly ranked, with Nicole Marmor, Partner and Head of the team, ranked as Band 1. Read more here.

Art & Heritage Partner Arthur Byng Nelson and Associate, James Crook have advised Guyanese-British sculptor and contemporary visual artist Hew Locke RA OBE on the negotiation and agreement of terms with The British Museum for his brilliant, challenging exhibition “What have we here?”.

Hew spent two years delving into the British Museum’s collection and creating new works of his own to create an exhibition that Adrian Searle has described in his five-star review in the Guardian as “part history lesson, part crime scene”.

Congratulations to all involved for a brilliant exhibition which is open to the public on 17^th October 2024 until 9^th February 2025.

For more information about Sherrards’ Art & Heritage team, please contact Arthur Byng Nelson, Head of Art & Heritage, on +44 207 478 9912 or arthur.byngnelson@sherrards.com.

Promoting Talent within Our Team

Gregory Pooler has shown remarkable leadership and dedication since becoming Legal Director in April 2023. He has played a key role in managing major litigation cases, and we are excited to see him continue to grow and take on greater responsibilities as a Partner.

Arthur Byng Nelson joined us as Legal Director in May 2023, and has consistently demonstrated excellent leadership skills, commercial understanding and dedication to his clients. His expertise in Art & Heritage law has brought fresh perspectives to the team and a number of fascinating pieces of work. We look forward to seeing Arthur continue to thrive and to make further contributions to the success of the firm.

Laurel Zhang’s career progression has been impressive, moving from Legal Director to Partner within a short time. Promoted to Legal Director in May 2024, Laurel has made a significant impact, including organizing a major ACLE conference and strengthening our connections with key Chinese organizations. We are excited for her continued success as she steps into the role of Partner.

Please join us in congratulating Gregory, Arthur, and Laurel, on their well-deserved promotions!

Welcoming Growth and Talent: Meet the Newest Members of Team Sherrards

As part of our ongoing growth strategy, we are also pleased to introduce our newest fee earners, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective departments, further expanding our legal expertise and capabilities.

Stephen McNeill has joined our Corporate and Commercial team as a Partner, primarily based in our London office. With extensive experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and strategic investments, Stephen specializes in the consumer, energy, TMT, and financial services sectors. Stephen’s ability to build trust on complex transactions has seen him take on significant roles, such as acting as Head of Legal for Kerecis during their $1.3 billion sale in 2023.

Daniel Carter is our new Associate in the Real Estate Litigation team, based in our St Albans office. He brings experience in handling a wide range of property disputes, with a focus on commercial property. Daniel adopts a flexible, pragmatic approach to dispute resolution, ensuring that clients receive clear, commercially sound advice.

Alex Anastasiou joins us as a Legal Director, bringing over 17 years of experience to support clients on our new Family Law matters. With a background at a leading boutique and top 100 law firm, Alex has joined Sherrards to help establish the Matrimonial department. He specializes in complex financial issues for high-net-worth individuals, dealing with family businesses, offshore trusts, and pre and post-nuptial agreements. Alex is also experienced in advising on children disputes, such as child arrangements, leave to remove, and paternity issues. His approach focuses on resolving matters outside of court using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) whenever possible, minimizing costs and stress for his clients. We are really excited to have him on board and expand our legal expertise and capabilities for our clients.

A Bright Future ahead

These announcements reflect Sherrards’ commitment to growth, excellence, and the continuous expansion of our legal expertise and capabilities. We are confident that our newly promoted partners and team members will help lead our firm towards greater success.

The Legal 500, an influential legal directory for over 33 years, bases its rankings on client feedback, firm submissions, interviews, and research. These rankings help us showcase our expertise and attract top talent, and we deeply appreciate the clients who serve as referees for us each year. Thank you for your continued support.

How did we do:

Our Dispute Resolution team retained its top tier status for another year with a client stating that Sherrards was a “Top quality firm based outside of London.”

Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, Paul Marmor has been recognised as a Leading Partner with clients noting Paul to be “very hardworking and attuned to needs and objectives of the client”.

Other notable mentions are:

• Marta Grieve who was described as “excellent at managing expectations and demands of clients”.
• Aaron Heslop, where a client stated, “Aaron has excellent judgement and is also excellent with clients”.
• Greg Pooler, who was described as “very bright and hard working. The Glue underpinning Sherrards”.

Employment also maintained their top tier ranking with the team described as “delightful to work with, astute, rigorous and extremely professional.”

Partner and Head of Employment, Mark Fellows, has been recognised a Leading Partner, and one client stated that “Mark Fellows is very professional and approachable. He has a pragmatic approach and the patience to answer any questions and break down legal complexities, so it is understandable for clients.”

Emma O’Meara, was also recommended and described alongside Mark as being “an immense fountain of knowledge that helps take the stress out with their pragmatic no nonsense and skilful approach.”

Our Private Wealth team has also maintained a top tier ranking this year. The team was noted to be a “strong, traditional and reliable private client service”.

Nicole Marmor, Partner and Head of Private Wealth was described as “approachable and knowledgeable. She provides an excellent service.”

Arthur Byng Nelson was described as “an experienced and conscientious private client adviser. He has warm, gentle and positive manner with clients and a balanced and constructive approach to solving their legal problems. He also has expertise in art markets and art law (and considerable enthusiasm for both)”.

Our Commercial Property teams in London and St Albans both ranked within the Legal 500 as well this year.

Stephanie Kierans has received recognition as a Next Generation Partner, and Terry Fendt (Head of Commercial Property), Shane Knight and Guy Morgan recommended for their expertise. 

The team was described as “Very professional and attentive team with a sound background and breadth of experience across all commercial property and other business matters”.

The Corporate and Commercial team was also ranked highly this year, receiving a tier 2 ranking.

We’ll leave it there for now, but a big congratulations to all our teams for their continued hard work. Most importantly, thank you to our clients and contacts for helping us achieve high rankings once again. Your support not only boosts our morale but also plays a key role in attracting and retaining top talent—and perhaps even a few new clients.

For the second consecutive year, Nicole has earned a place among the top International Private Wealth Lawyers, reaffirming her exceptional expertise and dedication in the international Probate and Wills.

Since its inception in 2006, Spear’s magazine has been a cornerstone for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their advisors, offering insightful coverage on wealth management, business culture, and luxury lifestyles. The magazine’s annual rankings are a respected benchmark in the industry, reflecting peer recommendations, client feedback, and extensive research by the Spear’s editorial and research teams.

Nicole Marmor’s continued recognition in 2024 highlights her outstanding contributions to the field and her unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled legal services in probate and wills. Her role as Head of Private Wealth at Sherrards has been instrumental in setting new standards in international probate and will individuals.

Nicole expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honoured to be recognised by Spear’s once again. This accolade reflects not just my personal commitment to excellence, but also the collective effort of our team here at Sherrards. It is incredibly rewarding to be acknowledged in a field with so many talented professionals.”

For those interested in consulting with Nicole or a member of the Private Wealth team at Sherrards, please reach out to law@sherrards.com.

To explore the latest rankings on the Spear’s website, click here.

To view Nicole’s profile on Spear’s, click here.

 

What is the Chamber & Partners Legal Directory?

A Chambers & Partners ranking indicates that your Firm, and departments within it, have excelled in their area of legal expertise. A band one ranking is the top level and signifies that Nicole Marmor has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in her area. This Firm has also been highlighted in this guide as one of very few firms with similar levels of experience and expertise.

In maintaining her Band 1 status, Nicole was evaluated on the following criteria:

• Technical Legal Ability
• Professional Conduct
• Client Service
• Commercial Astuteness
• Diligence
• Commitment

Nicole expressed her gratitude, stating, “This is a great opportunity that helps to showcase our talent and dedication to clients, demonstrating that Sherrards continue to excel. Working with such a supportive team is a privilege, and their continuous efforts ensure we rank highly in the legal directories.”

A heartfelt thank you to our referees for providing commentary on Nicole and her team, and to the private wealth team for their hard work in achieving this ranking in the High Net-worth Guide.

Click here to see the ranking on the Chambers and Partners website.

The event is similar to a school sports day, where different businesses battle it out for the coveted Elifar Foundation Trophy. Teams engage in friendly competition while raising money for a noble cause.

Elifar (Every Life is for a Reason) is a small charity dedicated to enhancing the care, facilities and equipment available to profoundly disabled children and young adults, whether at home or in residential care. The charity funds the purchase of a wide range of highly specialised equipment that would otherwise be inaccessible due to financial constraints. Our Partner Steph Kierans is a proud Ambassador for Elifar.

This year, Sherrards entered their team of 7, led by Team Captain Tabeer Hussain, Solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial Team. The team included: Erin Gibbs-Charles, Daniel Gibson, Amanda Newman, Mike Jenkins, and Abby Cowan.

The day was held at Beaconsfield Rugby Club, which was kindly arranged by Neil Hockins, who is a trustee for the Elifar Charity and a valued client of the firm.   

The team competed in a range of activities throughout the day:

• The Quiz, a typical pub quiz where sporting knowledge, flag knowledge and  knowledge of the 7 new and old wonders of the world were tested.
• Auzzie Sling Shot, a race where participants had to dress as kangaroos and complete an obstacle course to collect beanbags to then slingshot to score points.
• The Pin Game, a test of UK city knowledge.
• Volleyball, a game of two teams hitting the ball over the net. 
• Tug of War, a test of strength for our lawyers!
• The Gutter, feeding a range of different sized balls from one basket to another using different sized gutters to pass them along.
• The Cornhole, throwing a beanbag into an inclined wooden board with the aim to get it either on the board or through the hole.
• Hungry Hippos, a giant inflatable ring, where you are tied up with bungee rope and have to collect as many balls as possible from the middle.
• Top Spin, table tennis with a twist. Instead of a typical table tennis table – the table was round.
• The Hock, a test of your hand eye co-ordination. Half your team throwing to score points, and the other half of the team catching the opponents throws to score points.
• The Tourist, a test of your London knowledge. One team player gets given a card of a location in London and has to communicate it through mime, humming or drawing a picture. Once the location has been guessed you have to try and place this on an empty map of London.
• Giant Jenga, in 3 minutes you have to build the tallest Jenga tower! The higher you get, the trickier it gets to build!

In the evening, the team were treated to a BBQ before the results and award ceremony.

Despite not bringing back the trophy, Tabeer Hussain won Captain of the day.

It was a fantastic day out for the team and helped to raise a quarter of the charity’s yearly earnings. This has allowed the charity to open up their grant applications to help support more children and young adults across the year.