Seddons Sees Strong Growth, Hires Three New Partners

One of London's leading Commercial Law practices, based in London's West End, has announced a number of new Partner and Solicitor appointments, as well as internal promotions.

Christian Taylor joins Seddons’ Property team as Partner, coming from Holman Fenwick Willan LLP. Christian brings 18 years of experience, particularly in Commercial Property matters. He acts for investors (both individuals and institutions) in commercial and high-end residential real estate and oversees all aspects of property finance for lenders and borrowers.

Christian Smith comes across from Coffin Mew LLP, joining Seddons as Partner in the Commercial Disputes department. He focuses on insolvency, directors’ duties claims, complex trust disputes, shareholders’ disputes and banking litigation. Christian is recognised both in the Legal 500 and Chambers and is praised for his litigator’s brain and ability to find a practical approach to achieve his clients’ aims.

Also joining as Partner is Kyri Papantoniou, whose previous firms include Healys LLP and Pinsent Masons. He will advise on Corporate Transactions and Commercial Projects, particularly in the Private Company Sales and M&A market.

Two associates at Seddons have also been promoted. Germana Lo Iacono-Smith becomes a Partner, working across both the Disputes Resolution and Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury teams. Germana's clients include Italian public authorities and her work often involves co-ordinating claims with Italian lawyers across different jurisdictions and laws, most recently acting for Italian public authorities in UK financial disputes. Emily Lui becomes a Partner in Residential Property, overseeing such areas as Secured Lending Transactions for domestic, overseas and off-shore investors and manages the sale and purchase of high-value central London and countryside properties.

Additionally, Seddons has appointed two new fee earners. Danielle Keinan comes from Bird & Bird and handles Commercial Property and Real Estate transactions. And, Aoife Cantillon joins the firm's Residential team as a Solicitor, coming from Child & Child. Aoife will assist with Sales, Purchases and Secured Lending Transactions in central London locations and the Home Counties.

Robin Austin, Managing Partner of Seddons (Commercial Disputes), said: "These new appointments are part of our on-going strategy of recruiting and investing in top talent in order to help us drive the business forward. The success of any business depends on the quality of its people. As a firm we strive to not only recruit the best but offer first-class internal training to develop our individuals in order to provide our clients with outstanding advice and service across the business."

Seddons (http://www.seddons.co.uk) founded in 1988 and based at 5 Portman Square has a total of 84 staff, including 22 partners.

Key areas of practice include, in the Business sector: Corporate, Commercial Disputes, Real Estate Finance, Property Disputes, Commercial Property, Employment, Licensing and Corporate Immigration. And, on the Private side: Family, Dispute Resolution, Residential Property, Property Disputes, Wills, Trusts & Probate, Employment, Immigration, and Clinical Negligence.