Forsters promotes five new partners

Forsters, a leading London law firm, has announced the promotion of five lawyers to partner roles, effective from 1 April 2025. The newly appointed partners are Joanna Brown (Commercial Real Estate), Matthew Evans (Planning), Guy Mawson (Family), Maryam Oghanna (Trust and Estate Disputes), and Thérèse Marie Rodgers (Construction Disputes). These promotions reflect Forsters’ continued growth strategy and its commitment to strengthening expertise across various practice areas. Natasha Rees (pictured), Senior Partner at Forsters, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “This year’s promotions reflect our commitment to strategic growth. We are really pleased to welcome five outstanding lawyers to the partnership, each a leader in their field, dedicated to our clients and instrumental in shaping our firm’s success. Investing in top talent strengthens our market position and ensures we meet the rising demand for first-class legal counsel in an increasingly complex world.”

Emily Exton, Managing Partner at Forsters, also commented, “The fact that we are able to promote five talented lawyers in separate practice areas demonstrates that we are performing strongly across the firm. With the arrival of Immigration partner Tracy Evlogidis in November 2024 and five newly promoted partners, we enter the new financial year in a robust position and in an optimistic frame of mind.” These promotions highlight the firm’s robust performance and its ability to nurture talent in diverse legal sectors.

Joanna Brown, who joined Forsters’ Retail and Leisure team in 2020, brings with her extensive experience in commercial real estate. Having previously worked at Orrick, she advises large-scale institutional landlords on asset management, redevelopment, and refinancing of shopping centres, retail parks, and industrial estates. She has been instrumental in solidifying Forsters’ reputation in retail-focused real estate work, notably contributing to the success of some of the top 20 shopping centres in the UK.

Matthew Evans, a Legal 500 “Leading Associate” in 2025, joined Forsters in 2015 from the London Borough of Hackney. He is a recognised expert in planning law, particularly in large-scale residential-led developments. Matthew advises on infrastructure agreements, the Community Infrastructure Levy, and biodiversity net gain, further demonstrating his comprehensive expertise. In addition to his practice, Matthew plays a key role in Forsters’ Graduate Recruitment Programme and mentoring scheme, while also sitting as a board member of Baker Street Quarter.

Guy Mawson, who joined Forsters in 2021 from top-ranked family law teams at media-based firms, has already made a mark in private family law. Known as a “Rising Star” in Spear’s 500, Guy specialises in high-net-worth divorce cases involving complex assets, trust structures, and multijurisdictional issues. His reputation in family law continues to grow, and his appointment strengthens Forsters’ family law offering.

Maryam Oghanna, who joined Forsters’ Trust and Estates Disputes team in 2021 from Herbert Smith Freehills, is a rising star in private wealth disputes. Recognised in the Chambers HNW Guide, Maryam represents high-net-worth individuals, trustees, executors, and family offices in complex, multijurisdictional disputes. Her focus on Middle Eastern clients adds a unique element to Forsters’ global reach in this field.

Thérèse Marie Rodgers, known as TM, joined Forsters in 2023 from White & Case, bringing with her significant experience in construction disputes. She advises developers, building owners, contractors, and consultants on various dispute resolution methods, including mediation, adjudication, and arbitration. Specialising in commercial real estate, TM’s expertise also extends to the oil, gas, renewable energy, and infrastructure sectors, making her a valuable addition to Forsters’ construction disputes team.

The promotion of these five lawyers marks a significant milestone in Forsters’ strategic growth. The firm continues to strengthen its position in multiple practice areas, ensuring it remains well-equipped to meet the demands of its clients in an ever-changing legal landscape.