Bevan Ashford profits from Morgan Cole exodus

Vanessa Williams, previously an equity partner in Morgan Cole's corporate department in Oxford, will now head up Bevan Ashford's corporate finance work in London.

For Bevan Ashford, the hire creates a corporate finance triumvirate with Bristol-based partner John Townsend and Birmingham-based partner Geoff Perry, who recently joined from CMS Cameron McKenna.

Commercial development director David Worskett said the London appointment would enable Bevan Ashford to offer a truly nationwide corporate finance capability.

Williams said: "Since many of my clients and contacts are London-based, it really feels as though I'm coming home again. I'm especially looking forward to strengthening Bevan Ashford's national corporate finance capability from London, and utilising all the experience I gained at Morgan Cole - literally building up a business as well as a specialist corporate finance team."

Other recent departures from Morgan Cole include employment partner Alison Wallis, who joined Steptoe & Johnson last September, and insurance partners Mark Fanning and Hugh Price, who left late last year for Badhams and Hugh James respectively.