Knights has appointed four partners as the professional services business prepares to open an office in Cardiff – its first in Wales.
Dispute resolution specialist Will Baird, corporate lawyer Stewart Knights, tax and succession planning specialist Shaun Thomas and commercial property expert Scott Keddle, all join Knights as partners.
Their arrival comes amid a period of growth for Knights – with recent acquisition across the South East and Thames Valley building Knights’ unrivalled regional presence – and as the business gears up to open an office in Cardiff.
A permanent office in the Welsh capital will be Knights’ first outside of England, reinforcing the business’ focus on providing access to the best legal experts in the country everywhere in the UK. Clients will have access to Knights’ team of 1,350 professionals across 32 offices nationwide. Will, Stewart, Shaun and Scott are the first of many professionals set to join the business in Cardiff.
James Christacos, Regional Client Services Director at Knights, said:
“This is a landmark moment for our growth and an incredibly exciting opportunity to introduce the market in Wales to the premium service that our legal experts have to offer.
“Cardiff is the beating heart of the Welsh economy and it feels fitting that we’re now able to offer the business community in South Wales and beyond access to the best lawyers in the country across our network of 32 offices nationwide.”
A commercial litigation specialist, Will brings with him an astute understanding and knowledge of the regional market. Will advises and represents individuals and businesses across all industries on a broad range of legal challenges.
Will Baird, Partner at Knights, said:
“It’s a really exciting time to be joining the business and it’s a privilege to be asked to be a part of the team starting something new in Cardiff.
“I’ve spent my whole career learning and understanding the market in South Wales and I’m really looking forward to being able to take our fast-paced and premium service to clients in Cardiff and beyond.”
Stewart is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising in supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and owner managed businesses with a variety of corporate transactions, across a wide range of sectors. Stewart also holds a particular interest in the burgeoning GreenTech sector in Wales and the South West.
On the announcement of his appointment, Stewart Knights, Partner at Knights, said:
“I’m incredibly delighted to be joining Knights at such an exciting time of growth and opportunity.
“Supported by the fantastic regional network that we can now offer to a thriving market not only in South Wales, but Wales as a whole.”
Private Client expert Shaun is a specialist on wills and succession and has a particular interest in cross-border estates having worked across 40 jurisdictions in his 13-year career so far. Also a fluent Welsh speaker, Shaun deals with UK estates and has worked on the administration of estates from low level insolvent estates to estates worth in excess of £20 million while also dealing with a number of complex issues such as income taxation of investment bonds, domicile issues and applying for the re-seal of foreign Grants for use in the UK.
Shaun Thomas, Partner at Knights, commented:
“Knights are the standout regional professional services firm nationally and I’m really excited to be a part of this expansion into South Wales.
“There is a great opportunity for us in the market here in Cardiff and I can’t wait to get started.”
With well over a decade of experience in commercial property law, Scott Keddle brings deep insight gained from top-tier firms in Cardiff and Bristol and in-house roles across the UK and UAE. He advises on all aspects of commercial real estate, with a focus on landlord and tenant work, portfolio management, acquisitions, disposals and finance. His sector knowledge spans across energy, retail, healthcare and logistics.
Scott Keddle, Partner at Knights, said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Knights as a Commercial Real Estate Partner. With extensive experience advising on a wide range of complex transactions, I’m excited to bring that expertise to a firm with such a strong national presence and commercial focus.
“Knights’ collaborative culture and ambitious growth strategy make it the ideal platform, and I look forward to supporting clients in achieving their goals whilst expanding our commercial property presence in the region.”
Christacos added:
“Will, Stewart, Shaun and Scott are all very skilled lawyers whom we plan to build a team around with yet more recruits set to join in Cardiff in the weeks and months to come.”
Knights is ranked within the top 50 UK law firms by revenue – providing multiple services to business clients alongside premium advisory services to private individuals and families.
