OXFORDSHIRE: Leading law firm, Gardner Leader, welcomes two more to the team

Latest appointments mark nearly 20% team growth in the last two years

10th July 2024, Oxfordshire: Leading regional law firm, Gardner Leader, has welcomed two more solicitors to its two hundred strong team with the appointments of Senior Associates, Jeremy Tier and Will Castledine, who join the firm’s Family and Dispute Resolution teams, respectively.

The new appointments mark an exciting period of growth for the law firm which has seen its team grow by 19% over the last two years alone.

Jeremy Tier joins Gardner Leader having practiced exclusively in family law since 2005. He previously held roles at Batt Broadbent Solicitors, where he spent nearly 10 years, and most recently he was Partner and Head of Divorce and Financial Matters at Wansbroughs Solicitors in Wiltshire. Jeremy specialises in financial matters arising from divorce and is highly experienced in advising high net worth clients with complex needs, including pre-nuptial agreements, and negotiating and settling cohabitation disputes.

Before joining Gardner Leader’s Dispute Resolution team, Will Castledine spent a decade at City-based law firm, Olephant Solicitors. Will specialises in commercial litigation, with a focus on shareholder, company and contentious insolvency disputes. He has significant experience advising on matters before the High Court, including appellate experience before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Jeremy Tier, Senior Associate in Gardner Leader’s Family team, said: “It’s a privilege to be joining such a talented and well-established firm during an exciting period in its long history. Family law is an area in which Gardner Leader is well respected, and I’m delighted to be adding my nearly two-decades of experience to the mix.”

Senior Associate, Will Castledine added: “Gardner Leader is a firm which continues to solidify its position as one of the leading firms in the South of England across all practice areas. I’m looking forward to meeting our clients and working with the team to further demonstrate our expertise.”

Will and Jeremy’s appointments are the latest in a series of prominent hires the firm has made in recent months, including partner Lauren Blackman, who joined the Conveyancing team in April, and Vicky Schollar, who joined as Gardner Leader’s Head of Employment at the start of the year.

Gardner Leader has been at the heart of the Thames Valley community for over 125 years, with offices in Newbury, Thatcham and Maidenhead. The firm has tripled in size over the last 10 years, expanding across the South of England, with offices in London, Windsor, Swindon and most recently Oxford. Its highly experienced team of legal professionals work across nine specialist teams each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and individuals.

Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner at Gardner Leader, said: “We’re thrilled to have both Will and Jeremy join the Gardner Leader team. Their wealth of skills and knowledge will further strengthen our Dispute Resolution and Family teams.

“As a firm our purpose is to deliver best-in-class advice, guidance and service to our clients, ensuring they have peace of mind throughout the entire legal process. Will and Jeremy will play key roles within their respective teams, and their appointments mark a successful period of growth for the firm which we hope to continue over the coming months and years.”

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Editors notes

With offices in Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Swindon, Oxford and London, Gardner Leader is a leading law firm in the Thames Valley and South East, offering a wide range of legal services for businesses and individuals.

In the Legal 500 prestigious guide for 2022 the firm was described as ‘shining above all with their approachable and friendly way of doing things’, with Partner Niamh Minihane named as a “Next Generation Partner”, and Katie Dyson, Partner, singled out as a “Rising Star.”

In 2018 the firm won ‘Best in Business’ and ‘Best in Customer Service’ awards in the Newbury Weekly News award, and in 2016 it also won the LawNet award for Law Firm of the Year, and the Halsbury Legal Award in Business Development. Other awards include the LawNet Excellence in Employee Engagement award (2015), Highly Commended in the Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year category in the 2015 National Conveyancing Awards and Commended.

The firm was first founded in 1895. It has over 160 staff. Its team of highly experienced and friendly solicitors are all specialist, specifically dedicated to their areas of expertise. Each team is driven by what matters to the client and committed to delivering results.