Wragge & Co strengthens specialist areas with partner appointments

Wragge & Co has promoted three new partners, enhancing its credentials in pensions, construction and intellectual property. As of 1 May, Alex Bayer (IP, Munich), Paul Carberry (pensions) and Sue Ryan (construction) will join the firm's all-equity partnership.

The promotions follow the appointment of new corporate and private equity partner David Marshall and the decision to open a 10-partner office in Paris. According to senior partner Quentin Poole, these decisions reflect a commitment to make the right investments now to secure the firm's long-term prosperity.

Quentin Poole said: "The past couple of years have been tough for law firms and our clients, but what is important is our response to these challenges. We have been absolutely resolute in our dedication to excellent advice and client service. We are also strengthening core areas and expanding our capability in London and overseas to put our business on the strongest possible footing."

"In Alex, Paul, Sue, David and the new Paris partners, we have examples of what makes Wragge & Co people stand out. Each of them is relentless in their dedication to technical excellence. They know their markets inside out and are able to provide clients with creative, commercial solutions. They are also a lot of fun to work with, which clients and colleagues like."

Paul Carberry advises the trustees and sponsors of UK pension schemes on all aspects of pensions law, such as funding, investment and governance issues. He leads the six-lawyer Public Sector Pensions team; providing advice tailored to public sector organisations and the companies who do business with them. His appointment will take the total number of pensions partners to seven.

Sue Ryan becomes Wragge & Co's sixth construction partner in a 30-lawyer team advising many of the UK's biggest contractors and employers. A dispute resolution specialist, she advises on a full range of contentious issues, from risk avoidance and management at the start of large, complex projects to adjudication, litigation and arbitration.

IP and IT expert Alex Bayer specialises in brand, design rights, competition, copyright and data protection matters, including litigation. He joins Michael Schneider as one of two partners based in the Munich office. With IP colleagues in the UK and China, they provide a seamless service to global businesses looking for domestic or cross-border IP advice. He will be Wragge & Co's 10th IP partner.

On 1 March 2010 David Marshall joined Wragge & Co from Travers Smith's private equity team, where he advised clients including Bridgepoint, 3i and Phoenix. He brings a broad range of experience, having taken the lead on complex cross-border M&A and private equity transactions.

As well as deepening its commitment in Munich, Wragge & Co signalled its international ambitions with plans for a new office in Paris. Subject to confirmation from the Paris Bar, the firm will open a 10-partner office later this year.

Wragge & Co is a major commercial law firm providing a full range of legal services to UK and international private and public sector organisations. The firm was ranked second in Legal Week's 2009 Client Satisfaction Report, scoring 9.4 out of 10 for quality of legal advice and 9 out of 10 for service delivery.

It is home to Managing Intellectual Property's European High-Tech Law Firm of the Year and The Lawyer's Employment Team of the Year. Wragge & Co was named Most Client-Focused Law Firm of the Year at the 2009 Legal Technology Awards. It is also the only firm to feature in the Financial Times's Top 50 Best Workplaces in the UK.