Debenhams Ottaway strengthens commercial litigation team with two exceptional hires from London

Debenhams Ottaway is delighted to announce two new lateral hires that take our fast growing dispute resolution practice to a higher level of client focus and service capability.

Recently, cited in the Legal 500 as “a growing force in litigation outside of central London” we are underpinning that message today with the appointment of new Partner, Juliet Schalker from Rosling King and Senior Associate, Rosie Patterson from Herbert Smith, who will both work with recent winner of the M&A Adviser Emerging Leaders Award, Practice Leader, Luke Harrison in his commercial and insolvency disputes team.

Schalker’s focus is on deepening links with the private equity and the alternative lending markets and enhancing our growing practice in shareholder and boardroom disputes and alternative lender clients mainly in respect of insolvency and litigation, particularly professional negligence, where she is experienced in managing lender portfolio work.

Patterson’s general commercial litigation experience is complemented by her specialist expertise in contentious IP and patent litigation and she will help further build what is clearly now one of the leading IP disputes team in the northern Home Counties.

Commenting on joining the firm Juliet Schalker said:-
“Leaving London for St Albans and Debenhams Ottaway was not just about lifestyle reasons; a new role had to offer family flexibility, career growth and great clients. Increasingly it’s regional firms that are setting standards for diversity whilst serving more and more clients across London and the SE at a cost effective quality and service equivalent to London-based alternatives”.

Commenting on joining the firm Rosie Patterson said:-
“My move to Debenhams Ottaway offers much more hands on client experience with a rising number of entrepreneurial clients involved in IP disputes and I’m especially excited about showing how I can make a real difference in protecting their investment in their IP assets”.

Debenhams Ottaway CEO, Paul Khan said-
“Our dispute resolution practice is really going places and this is a triple whammy of good news. Our recent Legal 500 results and Luke Harrison’s emerging leaders award are truly underpinned by the hiring of Juliet and Rosie who are two outstanding solicitors. This shows the power of our offering to legal talent looking for career change and gives us an edge in helping clients manage ever more complex disputes”.