We’re delighted to announce that our commercial litigation and dispute resolution (LDR) practice has expanded with a series of senior appointments, reflecting growing client demand. The developments come as long-standing partner Hugh Smith prepares to retire after 37 years with the firm.

Led by Nick Dean, partner, and head of the LDR practice, the team has grown significantly over the past 12 months. Seven lawyers have joined at a range of levels, including three experienced partners, bringing the team to 13 and enabling the firm to support a growing client base and increasing demand for dispute resolution advice.

The recent partner appointments of Rob Ripley, Caroline Hardcastle and Sarah Thomsen add further depth of expertise across commercial, shareholder, and intellectual property disputes; building disputes; professional negligence claims; property litigation; and contentious probate.

Alongside the senior hires, the firm has also strengthened its pipeline of future talent, recruiting a solicitor specialising in contentious probate, and supporting paralegals through training to qualification – ensuring both immediate capacity for clients and long-term continuity of service across a broad range of sectors.

Nick, who has led the litigation and dispute resolution team since 2024, said: “These appointments reflect Andrew Jackson’s continued investment in its LDR practice. We have built a genuinely strong and collaborative team with a wide range of complementary expertise, further strengthening the service we offer to clients across the region and nationally.

“Businesses face increasingly complex disputes and need clear, practical advice they can act on quickly. We have grown our team to ensure we continue to provide the high levels of service, expertise and accessibility our clients expect, and we are well placed to support organisations as they navigate challenging commercial environments.”

Hugh Smith, who retires from Andrew Jackson at the end of March 2026,  joined the firm in 1989 when it was known as Andrew M Jackson & Co. During that time, he has acted for clients across a range of sectors, most notably the food industry, where he represented businesses operating throughout Europe. He was also a founder member of England and Wales’s Food Law Group. A highly experienced mediator, Hugh has played a key role in developing the firm’s litigation practice and mentoring colleagues.

Hugh said: “It has been a privilege to spend the majority of my career at Andrew Jackson and to work with so many colleagues and clients over the years. I am proud to see the strength and depth of the team today and to see it continue to grow and succeed under Nick’s leadership.”

Nick added: “Hugh has made a significant contribution to the firm over almost four decades. He helped establish the strong foundations on which we continue to build, and we wish him a very happy retirement.”

Recognised for several consecutive years by leading industry guide The Legal 500 as a top-tier commercial litigation practice, Andrew Jackson’s litigation team has been praised for its deep expertise, strategic insight and the calibre of its lawyers, with clients describing the service as “first class.”