Shakespeare Martineau has appointed Vanessa Joll and Tim Speed as joint heads of its litigation practice, reinforcing its national dispute resolution capabilities. The appointments form part of the firm’s strategic growth plan, enhancing its expertise in complex commercial and real estate litigation. Tim brings extensive experience in energy, insolvency, and corporate disputes, while Vanessa leads on real estate, housing, and asset management matters, particularly within commercial property and residential development.

Their appointments reflect Shakespeare Martineau’s continued investment in its litigation offering, which has a pipeline of new recruits set to join the team in the coming months.

Vanessa said: “It’s a privilege to co-lead a team of such depth and calibre. The real estate disputes landscape is becoming increasingly complex – from building safety issues to development-related disputes – and we’re committed to helping clients find clear, commercially sensible solutions in challenging situations.”

Tim added: “It’s an exciting time to be stepping into this leadership role as we continue to scale up our litigation services nationally. We’re seeing a rise in demand for commercially focused, strategic advice and we’re well-placed to support clients with the complex challenges they’re facing.”

Shakespeare Martineau is proactively seeking talented people to join the firm on its growth journey, including mergers, team recruitment and lateral hires nationally.