Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall, has added ten new legal specialists to its team following a period of growth.

The firm has recruited Olivia Corban, Rahel Goni and Lucie Rushton to its business law team, with Catherine Ackroyd, Tom Barton, Angela Brown, Melissa Cooper, Louise Conroy, John Llanes and Jennifer Parkinson joining its divisions that specialise in advising individuals and families.

Olivia Corban joins the firm’s Blackburn office as a commercial property paralegal, supporting the team on commercial property transactions, with Rahel Goni recruited to the firm’s Bury corporate and commercial team as a chartered legal executive from In-House Legal Solutions. Lucie Rushton also joins the firm’s Bury office as a paralegal, assisting the dispute resolution team having graduated from Leeds Beckett University.

Wills and probate specialist, Catherine Ackroyd, joins WHN’s Great Harwood office as a private client solicitor from Burnley firm, Smith Sutcliffe Solicitors, and Tom Barton has taken up his new paralegal role at the firm’s Blackburn office, joining from JS law.

Angela Brown arrives as a residential conveyancer from Bank View Solicitors in Blackburn and will be based at the Great Harwood office, with Melissa Cooper joining the firm’s Clitheroe team as a residential conveyancing solicitor.

Louise Conroy and John Llanes join as paralegals. Louise was previously assisting a senior District Judge at Blackburn Family Court and will be based in Clitheroe supporting the family law team. John joins the firm’s Rawtenstall office to support its conveyancing team, after graduating from the University of Lincoln.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Parkinson joins as a conveyancing executive from Southerns Solicitors in Burnley and will be based in the firm’s Rawtenstall conveyancing team. Jennifer has over 15 years’ experience working in the legal profession.

The ten appointments follow a period of growth for the firm. Michael Shroot, WHN Solicitors CEO, said: “We’re experiencing strong growth right across our business, individual and family law teams. The growth in new instructions has been borne out of our reputation and commitment to help our clients achieve their legal goals and make a positive difference, leading to a raft of recommendations.

“We will continue to invest in our capabilities and future by recruiting leading solicitors as well as training the best in class of legal graduates. I am delighted to welcome this new group of passionate professionals.”

WHN Solicitors employs 110 staff across Lancashire and Greater Manchester and has offices in Accrington, Bacup, Bury, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Haslingden, Great Harwood and Rawtenstall. It advises businesses, individuals and families on a full range of legal matters.

The firm recently received two national accolades for its expertise. It was ranked by Chambers and Partners in its 2022 guide to the UK’s leading lawyers, featuring the firm in the North West Real Estate Litigation category with director, Daniel Long, also ranked as an individual.

Its commercial litigation and corporate and commercial law teams also secured a place in the 2022 edition of Legal 500, known in the industry as the definitive guide to lawyers.