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04 February 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Blake Morgan—Scott Hilton, Joan Yu & Melia Hirst

Firm strengthens corporate, real estate and insolvency teams with partner trio

National law firm Blake Morgan has begun the year with the appointment of three new partners across its corporate, real estate and insolvency teams. Scott Hilton and Joan Yu (pictured) join the firm’s London office, while Melia Hirst returns to Blake Morgan’s Southampton office, taking the total number of new London partners hired in the past year to seven.

Hilton bolsters the real estate team, bringing more than 15 years’ experience advising developers, landowners, investors and occupiers, with a focus on the Central London prime office and retail markets. Yu joins the corporate team with over 20 years’ experience spanning mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, venture capital and equity capital markets, with a particular emphasis on natural resources and early stage technology businesses, often on cross-border matters.

In Southampton, Hirst joins the insolvency team, bringing nearly 20 years’ experience in insolvency and a strong reputation for non-contentious corporate insolvency work. She previously worked at Blake Morgan between 2007 and 2015 and has been recognised in Chambers and Partners for 12 consecutive years, as well as in Legal 500.

Helen Bunker, chair at Blake Morgan, said the firm was setting the tone for the year ‘with three fantastic new partners’ and highlighted the focus on ‘balancing growth across our corporate, real estate, and insolvency teams’, adding that the appointments would ‘deepen the excellent service’ clients expect from the firm.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

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