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Excello Law—five appointments

25 September 2025
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Fee-share firm expands across key practice areas with senior appointments

Excello Law has added five senior lawyers in the past two months, further strengthening its expertise across commercial law, dispute resolution, insolvency, construction and real estate. The new appointments bring the firm’s headcount to 210, representing 17% growth since August 2024, alongside recent international expansion into California, Dubai and Northern Ireland.

In Manchester, Holly O’Farrell (pictured) joins the construction and engineering team, bringing experience from Clyde & Co, Weightmans and JMW. She has advised on projects ranging from digital infrastructure to major developments, including a £750m logistics park in Ipswich. Liverpool-based Gaynor Williams adds more than 28 years of expertise in debt recovery, civil litigation and insolvency, and continues her pro bono work with the Liverpool Law Clinic.

Adrien Herbert, joining in Southport, brings a strong in-house commercial law background across IT, media, publishing and industrial leasing, with clients ranging from multinationals to SMEs. Bournemouth sees the arrival of Sarah Oakley as dispute resolution partner, with particular expertise in property litigation and TOLATA claims. In London, Nirav Shah joins to bolster secured finance and property, specialising in private finance transactions and lease extensions.

Commenting on the firm’s growth, COO Jo Losty said: ‘Our ongoing growth, both through high-calibre senior lawyers joining Excello and through the expansion of our House of Brands platform, demonstrates the strength of our offering.’ She added that Excello provides lawyers with ‘the autonomy and support they need to thrive’ and welcomed the latest cohort of senior hires as part of its strategy to attract top legal talent.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Slater Heelis—Chester office

Slater Heelis—Chester office

North West presence strengthened with Chester office launch

Cooke, Young & Keidan—Elizabeth Meade

Cooke, Young & Keidan—Elizabeth Meade

Firm grows commercial disputes expertise with partner promotion

CBI South-East Council—Mike Wilson

CBI South-East Council—Mike Wilson

Blake Morgan managing partner appointed chair of CBI South-East Council

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