Dickinson Dees has strengthened its insolvency and corporate recovery team with the addition of two new partners in Newcastle.

Commercial and insolvency law partner Julian Gill joins from rival northeast firm Watson Burton, where he was also a partner. Will Gunston has joined from the City office of Osborne Clarke, where he was a senior associate in the restructuring, turnaround and insolvency team.

Gill specialises in commercial and insolvency law and has acted for major banks and insolvency practitioners for around 20 years.

Gunston has advised on restructuring and insolvency assignments for clients including Bridge Information Systems, Federal Mogul, Cedar Software, Trident Fashions (Ciro Citterio) and AY Bank

The news comes with Dickinson Dees having this month appointed a new head of insolvency and recovery, with Sally Dallow promoted to lead the group. Previous department chief Jonathan Blair has formally stepped up to become firm-wide managing partner, replacing veteran leader Neil Braithwaite in the top role after an election last October.

Dallow trained with the Newcastle firm and was made partner in 2002.

Commenting on the recent hires, she said: "[Gill and Gunston] are two formidable additions to an already successful team. Their in-depth experience and national reputations help to consolidate our position as leading law firm in the northeast."

Gunston added: "I very much look forward to further developing the firm's well-established asset-based lending and bank-led recovery and insolvency practice."

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