Commercial property law specialist Ian Yarde is one of three new senior hires at law firm Lodders.

Mr Yarde joins the firm, which has its county offices in Cheltenham, as senior associate in the real estate practice.

Its real estate team now has 30 staff with specialisms also including commercial property, planning, construction and highways.

Mr Yarde is a specialist in residential development and all aspects of commercial landlord and tenant work.

He was previously at the Stratford upon Avon office of Shakespeare Martineau's for 12 years, where he was legal director in the commercial property practice.

Leanne Lawrence has also joined the firm as an associate solicitor in the firm's corporate and commercial team.

A specialist in mergers and acquisitions, articles of association, commercial contracts, and advising clients on franchises, shareholder and partnership agreements, Ms Lawrence joins from Brethertons Solicitors where she had been a commercial solicitor for 13 years.

Tom O'Riordan joins as a trusts solicitor in Lodders' private client practice, moving from Cheltenham firm Willans LLP to his new employer's Stratford upon Avon office.

Lodders has also welcomed back Vina Kumari who re-joins the firm as compliance and HR officer, working under Paul Harrison and HR director, Sarah Naffine.