TCC judge becomes door tenant at Atkin

She joined the set after retiring from Birmingham’s Technology and Construction Court (TCC), where she sat on the bench since her appointment in 2000.

Kirkham will specialise in arbitration and mediation for the set. She has held a number of senior posts while at the judiciary, including being appointed to the ­Judicial Appointments Commission. She was also a founding member of the UK Association of Women Judges.

Prior to joining the bench Kirkham was a partner at Birmingham-based Lupton Allsop.

She is a rare addition for Atkin, which has historically preferred organic growth.

Last year Atkin lost construction and professional negligence silk David Sears QC, who took up tenancy at 4 New Square (The Lawyer, 5 August 2010).