Swinburne Maddison announces firmwide promotions and new senior leadership roles

(L-R): Sarah Laird, Kaye Cunningham, Lewis Brown, Abigail Zuk, Sharney Randhawa, Laura Murphy, Diane Hall, Catherine Lowther, Claire Wilson James Curran and Craig Foot.

One of the North East’s leading law firms, Swinburne Maddison LLP, has announced a series of firmwide promotions effective from 1 May 2026, recognising the continued growth of the firm and the outstanding contribution of its people across multiple teams.

Two lawyers have been promoted to Managing Associate, with Diane Hall (Commercial Property) and James Curran (Commercial Litigation) stepping into the role as part of the firm’s ongoing investment in leadership and talent development. In addition, Claire Wilson, Kaye Cunningham and Sarah Laird have all been promoted to Associate within the Dispute Resolution team, reflecting their progression and growing expertise within their respective practice areas.

The firm has also confirmed that Laura Murphy has been appointed as the Head of the Private Client Department. Laura joined the team in 2025 as a Managing Associate and while carrying out the role on an interim basis has been widely praised for her leadership, commitment and ability to guide the department through change. Her appointment recognises both her performance in the role and her standing as a senior leader within the firm.

As part of a wider review of career progression at Swinburne Maddison, the firm is also introducing a new role of Senior Managing Associate. The position has been created to recognise experienced Managing Associates who lead teams, demonstrate senior leadership qualities and play a prominent role both within their departments and across the firm more broadly. We are delighted to announce the newly appointed Senior Managing Associates will be Abigail Zuk (Probate Litigation), Catherine Lowther (Family Law), Charlotte Excell (Commercial Property), Craig Foot (Residential Conveyancing), Laura Murphy (Private Client), Lewis Brown (Property Litigation) and Sharney Randhawa (Employment Law).

Commenting on the promotions, Jonathan Moreland, Managing Partner, said:

“As our firm continues to grow, it is vital that our career structure evolves alongside it. These promotions recognise not only individual excellence, but also the leadership, commitment and professionalism that underpin our success as a firm.

Laura’s appointment as Head of Private Client is particularly well deserved, and the introduction of our new Senior Managing Associate role is an important step in ensuring we continue to reward and retain senior talent who play a critical role in leading teams and shaping the future of the firm.”

The promotions follow continued growth across Swinburne Maddison and reflect the firm’s long-term commitment to supporting its people, providing clear progression pathways and strengthening leadership at every level.