Speechly Bircham, the London-based law firm, has strengthened its private client unit with the appointment of lawyer James Trafford as a partner.

Trafford, who is the eighteenth member of Speechlys’ private client team, was latterly head of the private client team at Wilsons in Salisbury. He has carried out extensive private client work with high net worth individuals based in both the UK and internationally during his career.

Trafford acts for a number of individuals and families in The Sunday Times Rich List along with private banks, offshore trust companies and individuals with complicated multi-jurisdictional issues, Speechlys said in a statement.

In other recent hires, earlier this month Speechlys named Rose Carey as head of its immigration practice as part of its international offering.

Carey has been a specialist immigration lawyer for 10 years and spent the last four years at Squire Sanders, a US-based law firm. In her career, she has acted for investment and asset management businesses as well as high net worth individuals and investors.

As the leader of the development of the company's immigration practice, the appointment of Carey is hoped to boost Speechly’s services for international clients, especially in North America, and corporate clients operating on the global stage.