Hammonds has taken the unusual step of promoting two of its senior associates halfway through the year, with Tracey Sheehan and Tim Cooper joining the firm's partnership this month.

Sheehan, a technology and telecommunications specialist, will become a partner in Hammond's Leeds office, while restructuring group member Cooper will become a partner in the firm's Manchester office.

Commenting on the promotions, Hammonds managing partner Peter Crossley said: "[Sheehan] has done brilliantly since joining from Nabarro and that is why we have promoted her. Due to the financial situation at the moment, Tim's side of the business is doing very well. A gap has come up in the Manchester office and Tim is the perfect person to fill it."