Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors has promoted Ashleigh Wong to partner in a series of strategic appointments following a record financial year. Women now make up 67% of the firm’s partnership
Wong (pictured above) joined the firm in 2025 to establish and lead its Contentious Probate & Disputes department. Recognised as a Key Lawyer in The Legal 500 and an accredited Lifetime Lawyer, she has built a specialist team advising clients on contested wills, inheritance and trust disputes.
“I am incredibly proud to be joining the partnership at Bell Lamb & Joynson”, Wong said. This promotion is not only a personal milestone for me, but also a reflection of the constant support, dedication and shared commitment of colleagues across the firm.
“Bell Lamb & Joynson’s vision of being ‘the firm clients turn to when it matters most’ is something that resonates deeply with me. Every day, clients place their trust in us at significant moments in their lives, and that trust is a privilege we should never take for granted.
“As a partner, I look forward to continuing to champion high standards, clear communication and exceptional client service. By putting clients first, doing the basics brilliantly and continually striving to improve, we can continue building a firm that both our clients and our people are proud to be part of.”
Bell Lamb & Joynson’s latest financial results reveal turnover has increased by 25% to £6.5 million – the highest in the firm’s 205-year history. The firm’s continued growth has also seen it return to Liverpool city centre for the first time in 15 years with the opening of a new office, expanding its presence to six offices across the north west of England.
Ellisons has strengthened its private client offering for agricultural and rural clients with the appointment of Samuel Flower (right, with senior partner and head of rural affairs Tim Logan) as a senior associate in the Rural Affairs team.
Flower joins with expertise across all areas of wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate, alongside experience in contentious probate matters. His work includes advising individuals and families on future planning, supporting clients through bereavement, and helping to manage the transition of farming businesses and partnerships between generations.
His appointment reflects continued demand for specialist advice within the rural sector, where clients often require a combination of technical legal expertise and a strong understanding of the complexities unique to agricultural businesses and land ownership.
Flower said: “I’m pleased to be joining Ellisons’ Rural Affairs team at a time when the sector is facing increasing complexity and challenges. Supporting farming families and rural businesses requires a thoughtful, tailored approach, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to help clients plan for the future and navigate change with confidence.”
Ellisons’ Rural Affairs team provides specialist legal advice to landowners, farmers and rural businesses across the east of England and beyond, supporting clients on a wide range of personal and commercial matters.
BRI Wealth Management has appointed former Rathbones CEO Paul Stockton as non-executive director.
Stockton joins the Midlands-based wealth management firm subject to the completion of all regulatory and governance formalities.
He served as chief executive of Rathbones Group Plc from 2019 to 2025, having previously held the roles of group finance director and managing director of its investment management business.
A chartered accountant who qualified with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1992, he brings more than three decades of experience across wealth management, investment management and financial services.
Stockton previously held senior finance positions at Old Mutual Plc, Gerrard Ltd, Euroclear and Phoenix Group Plc. He has also served on several industry bodies and boards, including the FCA Practitioner Panel and the Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association (PIMFA).
He said of his appointment: “BRI’s focus on its personal client relationships and its strong identity in the Midlands will create some exciting opportunities as it pursues its ambitions. I am delighted to be able to work with the capable team at BRI to provide support as it develops.”
BRI continues to grow its regional presence organically and through acquisitions: in March, the firm completed the acquisition of West Midlands Wealth Management in March, following the purchase of Gloucestershire-based FutureFocus Advisory Limited in October 2025. BRI now manages over £800 million in client assets.
