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Carpmaels & Ransford promotes energy specialist to the partnership

Russell Woolley joins the partnership on 1st July 2025   Carpmaels & Ransford is pleased to announce the promotion of Russell Woolley to the partnership effective from 1st July 2025. Russell sits within the firm’s Chemistry team. Building on his academic experience and PhD researching fuel cell electrodes, Russell has built up particular expertise in the field of energy storage and conversion, including lithium-ion batteries. He works for firms big and small, from established industry players to guiding start-ups with their first few patent applications. His work stands up to scrutiny: Russell’s clients have secured major investment following in-depth due diligence assessing the strengths of portfolios he has drafted and prosecuted. Russell is a leading member of the Carpmaels multidisciplinary Energy+ team made up of attorneys with expertise across chemistry, materials, electro-mechanical engineering, IT, and biochemistry. The team enjoys devising creative strategies for high-value IP assets in the rapidly developing and exciting energy field, leveraging their technical know-how and extensive experience handling contentious matters and coordinating global portfolios. Hugh Goodfellow, Managing Partner at Carpmaels & Ransford, comments: “Russell has developed an impressive practice during his time at the firm, and we are very pleased that he is joining the partnership. His promotion will further strengthen our growing energy team and the work we do advising clients across the full spectrum of new technology in the energy sector.”
Carpmaels & Ransford LLP - July 4 2025
Press Releases

CyXcel achieves coveted NCSC Cyber Incident Response (CIR) Approved Vendor status

 This recognition underscores CyXcel’s commitment to delivering top-tier incident response services and enhancing its clients’ cyber resilience   18 March 2025 - Global cybersecurity consultancy, CyXcel, a business division of leading law firm Weightmans LLP, today announced that it is just one of two law firms to achieve NCSC Cyber Incident Response (CIR) Approved Vendor status. This status has been achieved by only 43 companies in total in the UK and is a crucial benchmark for organisations delivering incident response services set by the UK government’s leading cybersecurity authority. It demonstrates CyXcel’s technical capability, experience, and operational effectiveness to handle serious cyber incidents.  This accomplishment aligns with CyXcel’s commitment to excellence and delivering top-tier incident response services for its clients. The NCSC recommends that all UK organisations should use an NCSC assured Cyber Incident Response provider when dealing with cyber incidents as the status offers assurance that a provider meets the stringent technical, procedural, and ethical requirements set. Steve Sandford, Partner, Digital Forensics & Incident Response at CyXcel comments, "This achievement demonstrates that our team has undergone rigorous assessment, meeting the highest industry standards and has strengthened our reputation as a trusted and credible cyber security provider. For our clients, this means confidence in the quality of service they receive, knowing they are engaging with a provider that has been vetted by the UK’s most trusted cybersecurity authority.” Edward Lewis, CEO of CyXcel also said, “Cyber incidents are becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and damaging. Organisations across all sectors face an increasing risk of ransomware attacks, data breaches, and nation-state threats. In this environment, businesses must ensure they engage with trusted, capable, and accredited incident response providers who can handle cyber incidents with the highest level of expertise and professionalism. We are very proud to achieve this status and by committing to these standards, we not only strengthen our own capabilities but also provide our clients with the assurance that their cybersecurity is in the safest possible hands.” Engaging a CIR accredited provider ensures that organisations receive expert assistance when cyber incidents occur. These providers bring a wealth of experience and specialised knowledge, enabling them to swiftly identify, contain, and mitigate security incidents. Their expertise is invaluable in minimising the impact of breaches and preventing future occurrences. By leveraging the skills of accredited professionals, organisations can navigate complex security challenges with greater confidence and efficiency. For further information on the NCSC’s Cyber Incident Response scheme visit: Cyber Incident Response (CIR) - NCSC.GOV.UK About CyXcel CyXcel is a global cybersecurity consultancy, helping organisations safeguard their digital assets against evolving threats. Our integrated approach sets us apart. With experts from cybersecurity, law, regulatory, and geopolitical fields, we offer solutions that address every facet of today’s business challenges. With a focus on resilience, compliance, and innovation, CyXcel delivers advanced security technologies, threat intelligence, and tailored risk management strategies to businesses across industries. Whether you’re responding to data privacy laws, preparing for digital transformation, battling ransomware, or navigating international sanctions, we deliver seamless strategies that make sense in the real world. Our mission is to empower enterprises with the tools and expertise needed to navigate today’s complex cyber landscape with confidence.   A business division of leading law firm Weightmans LLP, CyXcel is just one of two law firms to achieve NCSC Cyber Incident Response (CIR) Approved Vendor status, a crucial benchmark for organisations delivering incident response services set by the UK government’s leading cybersecurity authority. CyXcel was also named Best Cyber Start-Up of the Year at the Cyber Security Awards 2025. For more information, visit www.cyxcel.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X: @CyXcelSecurity.  
Weightmans LLP - May 17 2025
Press Releases

Mourant bolsters Investment Funds group with Partner hire from Kirkland & Ellis

Mourant, a law firm-led professional services business, is expanding its global investment funds offering with the hire of a partner from Kirkland & Ellis. Brad Hillson joins Mourant as Global Head of Private Capital and will drive the firm's private capital practice which includes services provided in BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Jersey, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Singapore and the UK. Brad's practice spans all aspects of investment funds with a particular focus on fund formation and structuring, reorganisations, and cross-border transactions. He has notable experience advising sponsors on global carried interest arrangements and other complex incentive programmes. Brad has advised leading private equity sponsors including Ares, Bridgepoint, BC Partners, EQT, GLP Capital Partners, IK Investment Partners, KKR, Montagu and Summit Partners. Notably, Brad recently advised long-standing client, GLP Capital Partners Limited, on the US$3.7 billion sale of its international business to Ares Management Corporation. Commenting on the appointment, Mourant CEO, Jonathan Rigby, said: "We are delighted to welcome Brad to Mourant. He has a stellar reputation in the market for delivering exceptional service to many of the world's leading private equity firms. Brad's global practice will bolster our position as a market leader in cross-border investment fund services, enable us to continue to provide a top-tier funds offering to our clients, and further expand the depth and breadth of our leadership team." Global Co-Head of Investment Funds, Alex Last, commented: "Brad brings a wealth of commercial and highly technical experience to our investment funds group. His practice, which spans the US, Europe, and Asia, is squarely aligned with the continued expansion of our funds offering and he brings highly sought-after experience of advising on some of the world's largest and most complex investment fund transactions. This level of expertise will no doubt be a huge asset to Mourant." Brad Hillson added: "Mourant's market leading multi-jurisdictional investment funds platform is exceptional in its breadth and depth and the client response to what we're building here has been overwhelmingly positive. We're growing an elite offshore investments funds legal practice with seamless access to top-tier fund administration and governance services. I'm thrilled to join the leadership team at Mourant and privileged to continue to work with many of the world's leading private equity firms." Mourant's global Investment Funds group continues to lead the market, earning notable rankings across the leading legal directories and consistent recognition in the Monterey Fund Report – an independent research company that provides comprehensive statistical analysis of the fund industries in Jersey, Guernsey, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the UK.   For further information please contact: Zara Raymond, Marketing Manager: [email protected]   About Mourant Mourant is a law firm-led, professional services business with over 60 years' experience in the financial services sector. We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services. We are an international and globally-integrated firm with offices in a number of the world's leading international finance centres, including London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Our business is intrinsically linked to the global economy and the capital flows that support it. We serve the needs of our clients in all major time zones, facilitating responsible cross-border finance and investment, the pooling and protection of capital and the resolution of disputes. Our clients include many of the world's leading financial institutions, international corporations, asset managers and institutional investors. We are routinely instructed to work alongside the world's pre-eminent legal, accounting and financial services firms. We have an outstanding reputation for integrity and professional ethics, underpinned by a strong risk management culture. Find out more: mourant.com
Mourant - May 17 2025
Press Releases

Leading media and commercial law firm Simkins LLP promotes three new Partners

Leading media and commercial law firm Simkins LLP is delighted to announce the promotions of Juliane Althoff, Helena Franklin and Jessica Welch to Partner. Juliane Althoff’s practice covers all areas of the film and television industry. Having trained with the firm and earning valuable in-house experience during secondments at Lionsgate, The Blair Partnership and Pottermore Publishing, she has developed trusted client relationships and in-depth and practical industry knowledge. Speaking on her promotion, Juliane commented: “This milestone is a testament to the incredible team I have had the privilege of working with and I am very much looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that partnership will offer. I look forward to contributing to Simkins’ ongoing success and growth and continuing to provide my clients – both old and new – with the best possible service.” Helena Franklin joined Simkins as a junior commercial lawyer and has since become an integral part of the firm’s Commercial offering. She has developed encyclopaedic knowledge of the advertising and marketing industry and provides specialist advice to businesses operating within the space about the constantly evolving regulatory and technical environment. Helena commented: “The team at Simkins has shown me unwavering support since I joined the firm in 2017. I am looking forward to continuing to work amongst brilliant colleagues at the top of their respective fields.” Jessica Welch has become a highly respected member of Simkins’ Disputes team. She is known for her broad practice, which spans defamation/privacy, copyright, and general commercial litigation. Since joining Simkins, she has worked on cases in the Copyright Tribunal, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Jessica was a key member of the team representing Sir Cliff Richard in his landmark privacy action against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police. On her promotion, Jessica commented, “I am thrilled to have been appointed to the Partnership at Simkins, having started my legal career here as a trainee in 2013. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to forge such an exciting practice amongst incredible clients and colleagues, and I am very grateful to them for their continued encouragement and support. I look forward to growing with the firm as a Partner and am excited for what the future might hold.” Managing Partner Euan Lawson said, “Many congratulations to our newly appointed Partners. They have all demonstrated exceptional legal acumen, commitment to clients, and have embodied the values of the firm – they are great Simkins success stories. We welcome them into the partnership and wish them yet further successes as they venture into the next stage of their careers.” Read more about Simkins LLP here.
Simkins LLP - May 17 2025