Three senior corporate partners in six months. That’s the hiring velocity at Freeths, which confirmed on Tuesday that Michelle Kirkland-Elias has joined its Bristol office from CMS, bringing 15 years of international hospitality expertise with her.
The recruitment pattern suggests serious expansion ambitions.
Kirkland-Elias specialises in cross-border hotel deals and hospitality transactions spanning the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Her practice covers mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and what the Legal 500 2025—which named her a Key Lawyer—describes as work requiring “first rate legal capability, hard-working and highly collaborative” approaches to “get deals done across a wide range of stakeholders.”
Her hospitality portfolio runs deep. She advises on hotel acquisitions, branded residences, members’ clubs and hospitality-led workspaces, guiding investors and operators through management agreements, franchise arrangements across major and niche brands, and the corporate dimensions of asset financing. That spans the entire operational lifecycle—from initial acquisition and investment through to asset management, brand expansion and both asset-heavy and asset-light investment models.
Leon Arnold, Freeths’ national head of corporate, made the firm’s strategy clear. “Michelle is a highly respected lawyer whose breadth of experience makes her an excellent addition to our team. Her sector knowledge, particularly across the hotels and leisure sector, complements our growing offering in this area and supports the continued expansion of our Corporate practice. We are delighted to welcome her to Freeths as we continue to invest in exceptional senior talent to meet the increasing needs of our clients.”
The move from CMS, itself a major international practice, signals Freeths’ determination to compete for top-tier talent. Kirkland-Elias brings experience across consumer products, technology, media and telecommunications alongside her hospitality focus.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Freeths at such an exciting stage in the firm’s growth,” she said. “The strength and collaborative culture of the Corporate team really stood out to me, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the continued development of Freeths’ international practice, the DHL sector group and the Corporate team in general. With increasing demand for cross‑border and sector‑focused advice, I’m excited to work alongside colleagues to support clients as they navigate complex and fast‑moving markets.”
Her appointment follows partner Zum Mohammed’s arrival in London, where he’s strengthening private equity and mid-market transactional work. In Glasgow, partner Louise Mahon joined a Scottish operation that expanded its workforce by 20% in 2025 alone.
Freeths sits in the UK’s top 50 commercial firms by revenue, serving clients including Centrica, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian and Lloyds Bank. The practice gained prominence for its High Court victory representing 555 sub-postmasters against the Post Office in what became one of Britain’s most significant miscarriages of justice. It continues advising on the subsequent compensation schemes.
The firm holds B Corporation certification, demonstrating verified social and environmental standards—a distinction that’s increasingly relevant as clients scrutinise law firm practices beyond billable hours. It secured Diversity Champion status from Stonewall, Gold accreditation from Investors in People in 2025, and recognition as a Top 30 Employer by Working Families this year.
Recent awards include Law Firm of the Year at both the City AM Awards 2025 and Legal Business Awards 2024. It came runner-up for UK Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2025.
For Kirkland-Elias, the challenge now involves translating her international network and hospitality sector relationships into work for Freeths’ expanding client base. The firm’s DHL sector group—focused on the interplay between development, hospitality and leisure—stands to benefit directly from her cross-border experience.
The hospitality sector has seen increased M&A activity as post-pandemic valuations stabilise and international investment returns to UK assets. Operators are reassessing portfolios, with both consolidation plays and brand expansion creating demand for lawyers who understand both the legal mechanics and operational realities of hotel transactions.
Whether Freeths can sustain this hiring pace through 2025 will depend partly on market conditions and partly on the firm’s ability to translate senior talent into revenue growth. The Bristol office, already home to a growing corporate practice, now has a recognised international specialist to anchor its hospitality offering.
What’s clear is the firm’s willingness to invest in senior expertise rather than grow exclusively through junior recruitment. Three partner-level hires in half a year represents significant financial commitment—and an equally significant bet that the work will follow.
