Position: Knowledge development lawyer

Joanne Purnell

  • 1 June 2026
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Jo is a Knowledge Development Lawyer in the Commercial Real Estate team.

Having joined in May 2026, Jo brings 20 years’ of transactional experience across a range of commercial property matters to provide on-hand support and training to the team.

Her responsibilities include reporting on legal developments, advising the team on technical content and practical application and working alongside lawyers at all levels to ensure a timely and commercial outcome.

Jo is also responsible for resourcing and implementing AI and other technical solutions to facilitate an excellent service for clients.

Hannah Disselbeck

  • 30 March 2026

Hannah is a Knowledge Development Lawyer supporting the firm’s Employment and Partnerships team.

Working closely with the wider Knowledge Development team and other teams in the firm, Hannah ensures that the Employment and Partnerships team have the resources and training to remain up to date with the latest legal and market developments, supporting them to deliver an outstanding and efficient service to clients. She is also responsible for helping the team implement innovative technical solutions, including through the use of AI, to offer an efficient service to clients.

Hannah previously advised employers across a range of sectors on all aspects of employment law, acting on both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Elizabeth Shaw

  • 16 July 2025
Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth is the Family team’s Knowledge Development Lawyer.

She ensures our Family team stays up to date with the latest legal developments and takes a leading role in the training and business development strategy for the team, equipping our fee earners with the knowledge and resources they need to deliver exceptional service to clients. 

Elizabeth has a particular interest and expertise in pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. During her time in practice, she worked on the leading case of Radmacher v Granatino from first instance to the landmark Supreme Court decision.

She is a member of the Family Law Agreements Group (FLAG), which aims to provide a constructive, client-focused approach to the drafting and negotiation of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and the Family Law Knowledge Network. She is also a member of Resolution.

Jamie Olsen Ferreira

  • 3 April 2025
Jamie Olsen Ferreira

Jamie is a Knowledge Development Lawyer, specialising in non-contentious Construction and supporting the Construction team at Forsters.

He provides support for a broad range of non-contentious construction issues including commercial & residential property (including issues related to building safety), corporate support and infrastructure/energy projects, and is responsible for ensuring the fee earners have the training and resources they need to deliver a first class service to clients.

Jamie previously worked for employers, funders and contractors across a broad range of matters and sectors and experience drafting a variety of appointments and different forms of building contracts, and also has experience as a knowledge development lawyer in national and international law firms and at a knowledge resources provider used by the UK legal industry

Raphaella Lafrance

  • 21 September 2024
Raphaella Lafrance

Raphaella is a Knowledge Development Lawyer supporting the firm’s Disputes teams (Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Trust and Estate Disputes).

She is responsible for ensuring that our Disputes teams are kept up to date with the latest legal developments and changes in court procedure, taking a leading role in the training strategy for the practice groups she supports.

Robert Linden Laird Craig

  • 21 September 2024
Robert Linden Laird Craig

Robert is a Knowledge Development and Practice Lawyer in the Private Client team focussing on a broad range of practice areas pertaining to UK individuals, including wealth structuring, tax and estate planning, trusts, charities, mental capacity issues and contentious trusts and estates.

Building on his previous practice as a Private Client lawyer in the team, Robert’s role involves keeping lawyers informed about the latest developments in the ever-changing Private Client landscape in England and Wales, providing legal updates, alongside training and seminars covering all relevant topics.

Prior to becoming a Knowledge Development Lawyer in 2019, Robert practiced as a Private Client Lawyer at Forsters, where he qualified in 2010.

Lianne Baker

  • 21 September 2024
Lianne Baker

Lianne is a Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer supporting the firm’s Corporate and Commercial teams (Banking and Finance, Tax, Corporate, Employment and Partnerships). She also supports the wider firm in its negotiation of contracts with suppliers and third parties.

Lianne works closely with the firmwide team of Knowledge Development Lawyers, in particular those in Real Estate and Private Wealth, ensuring a joined up approach to providing professional support to our fee earning teams. She has a pivotal role ensuring that teams she supports are always up to date in relation to the latest legal and market developments, taking a prominent role in driving forward and supporting the teams’ thought leadership work.

Louise Irvine

  • 21 September 2024
Louise Irvine

Louise is a Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer in the Commercial Real Estate team where she keeps the team’s knowledge and resources up-to-date in relation to legal and market developments. Working as a fee earner for ten years before moving into the knowledge team, Louise has an excellent understanding of both real estate and the commercial challenges faced by clients.

She frequently provides legal training to all levels within the Commercial Real Estate team, alongside providing support on the wider skills needed by lawyers such as drafting, grammar and psychological safety. Taking pride in being approachable and responsive, Louise enjoys working with many teams across the firm and finding pragmatic solutions that allow clients to achieve successful transactions.

Louise has a strong interest in sustainability and provides training both internally and to clients on sustainability legislation and trends and on green lease drafting. This often sees her collaborating with clients and suppliers to work towards mutual net zero carbon goals. She also follows the latest legal technology trends and enjoys looking at how to eliminate risk and improve efficiency within the team.

Charlotte Ross

  • 21 September 2024
Charlotte Ross

Charlotte is a Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer, supporting our Real Estate Disputes and Construction Disputes teams.

She works to add value to our clients by keeping clients briefed on relevant developments within the law, creating precedents or implementing tech which will allow work to be managed efficiently and effectively.

Charlotte is also responsible for ensuring the fee earners have the training and resources they need to deliver a first class service to clients.

Claire Murray

  • 21 September 2024
Claire Murray

Claire is a Knowledge Development Lawyer in the Private Client team focussing on a broad range of practice areas relating to UK and international individuals and families, including wealth structuring, estate and succession planning, tax, regulatory and compliance, both for individuals/families and their related structures, including family offices and trusts.

Drawing on over 20 years’ experience in private client work, Claire’s role involves keeping lawyers informed about the latest developments in the constantly-evolving field of private client practice. She provides legal updates, training, technical content and practical application to support lawyers at all levels in the team in delivering excellent client service.