Hammond Suddards adds to Lloyd's team

Hammond Suddards has further expanded its Lloyd's of London office with the recruitment of six new fee earners, including two partners poached from rival firms.

The two are Nigel Blacklock, formerly with Elborne Mitchell and a former Lloyd's syndicate claims manager, and Steven Reynolds, a professional indemnity specialist from Berwin Leighton, who also becomes a partner at Hammond Suddards.

The expansion follows Hammond Suddards' acquisition of Forsyte Kerman's Lloyd's insurance team in April.

Hammond Suddards senior partner John Heller said the office, which had doubled in space since April, had given a "tremendous boost" to the firm's insurance practice. "We are delighted with the volume and in particular the quality of new instructions," he said.

The firm has now moved into the Lloyd's offices vacated by Waltons & Morse when its insurance group merged with Hammond Suddards' rival Eversheds in March.

Eversheds spokeswoman Fiona Inchbald said a physical presence in Lloyd's was not important and said the firm's department was healthy.