Womble Bond Dickinson Expands with 11 New Partner Promotions
Advisor - People | Jul 01, 2025 | Womble Bond Dickinson

Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD), a transatlantic law firm with UK operations, has announced the promotion of 11 new partners effective from 1 July 2025. This strategic move underlines the firm's commitment to investing in its core sectors and supporting the career advancement of its legal talent. Included in these appointments are partners specializing in corporate and commercial law, banking, real estate, and private wealth, spread across various locations including Newcastle, London, and Bristol. The decision also reflects the firm's ongoing strategy to retain and develop exceptional talent, as emphasized by UK Chair, Alexander Dickinson. With a focus on areas such as fast-growing tech and energy sectors, cross-border corporate transactions, asset finance, renewable energy projects, and high-value litigation, these new partners bring a diverse range of expertise critical to meeting WBD's ambitious growth goals. Additionally, three new legal directors have been appointed in corporate and commercial, and dispute resolution, further enhancing WBD's capabilities to serve its clients' evolving needs.
Sectors
- Legal Services
- Corporate Finance
- Real Estate
Geography
- United Kingdom – The promotions are taking place across various UK offices of Womble Bond Dickinson.
Industry
- Legal Services – WBD is a law firm that provides legal services across multiple sectors, which is the focus of the article.
- Corporate Finance – Several new partners are involved in corporate projects and M&A transactions, key aspects of corporate finance.
- Real Estate – Some of the promotions involve expertise in real estate finance and development, integral to the real estate sector.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Womble Bond Dickinson | Company | Target | A transatlantic law firm with operations in the UK and the US, known for its full-service legal advice across a range of sectors. |
| Alexander Dickinson | Person | UK Chair | UK Chair at Womble Bond Dickinson, leading and overseeing the firm's UK operations. |
| Oliver Rickett | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Corporate, focusing on corporate projects and technology sector investments. |
| David Ridley | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Corporate, with significant experience in private equity and energy industry transactions. |
| Nicola Walker | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Banking, specializing in asset finance. |
| Joseph Dean | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Finance & Investment, experienced in real estate finance. |
| Stephen Baker | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner focused on advising investors and developers in commercial real estate. |
| Briony Holland | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Core Real Estate, with a focus on renewable energy projects. |
| Martin Bailey | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Core Real Estate, advising on portfolio management and strategic real estate deals. |
| Ellen Rutherford | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Agriculture & Estates, specializing in rural property law. |
| Joe Kelley | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Private Capital, focused on high-value trusts and estate litigation. |
| Susan Maxey | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in Private Capital, advising on estate planning and taxation. |
| Catherine Gill | Person | Promoted Partner | New Partner in commercial real estate, part of the Senior Management Team at the Legal Solutions Centre. |
| Katie Simmonds | Person | Promoted Legal Director | New Legal Director specializing in data privacy and cybersecurity. |
| Catherine Willis | Person | Promoted Legal Director | New Legal Director experienced in advising on corporate transactions. |
| Sally Brock | Person | Promoted Legal Director | New Legal Director specializing in catastrophic and fatal injury claims. |