Coodes Solicitors appoints Kayleigh Whitman as Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution

Coodes Solicitors is delighted to announce the appointment of Kayleigh Whitman as head of its Commercial Dispute Resolution team, marking an exciting new chapter in the continued growth of the firm’s specialist services for businesses across the South West and beyond.

Kayleigh joined Coodes in 2021 and has quickly established herself as a highly respected commercial litigator. After graduating with a law degree from the University of Plymouth and qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive, Kayleigh developed her expertise at local firms before joining Coodes to further strengthen its commercial dispute offering.

Now leading one of the largest teams of commercial litigators in Cornwall, Kayleigh specialises in commercial disputes affecting business clients throughout the region. Her work covers a wide range of complex issues, including commercial property disputes, agricultural disputes, contract disputes, insolvency litigation, corporate disputes (including shareholder, director and partnership litigation) and construction disputes. She has built a particular reputation for her expertise in leasehold and holiday park litigation disputes.

Her recent work includes acting on high-value partnership dissolutions, complex construction contract terminations and representing a tenants’ association in a range of landlord and tenant disputes. Kayleigh has also supported major agricultural transactions by handling tenancy issues as part of large farm sales.

Kayleigh Whitman, Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution at Coodes Solicitors, said: “I am incredibly pleased and proud to be taking on this leadership role at such an exciting time for Coodes.

“We have an exceptionally talented team, and I look forward to continuing to build on our strengths, supporting our clients through challenging and complex disputes and driving further growth in this key area for the firm.”

Kayleigh’s appointment comes as part of a new chapter in Coodes’ history and a broader leadership transformation to support the firm’s continued growth and its ability to meet the changing needs of clients in an increasingly complex commercial environment.

At the centre of this transition is the recent planned succession of Elise Alma as Chair, following the retirement of Peter Lamble after 23 years with the firm. Elise, who joined Coodes in 1987 and previously led its Family Law team, brings nearly four decades of legal and leadership experience to her new role.

Two new key roles were also established, with Abi Lutey, a Partner, taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing the legal departments and business support functions, and Becky Hosken becoming Chief People Officer (CPO), leading the firm’s HR strategy and ensuring the people side of the business aligns with its values and ambitions.

Elise Alma, Chair of Coodes Solicitors, said: “We are delighted to announce Kayleigh’s appointment as Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution. Her expertise, commitment to client service and collaborative leadership style make her the perfect choice to lead this dynamic and growing team. This appointment reflects our strategy of strengthening the firm as a whole and continuing to grow the breadth and scale of the commercially focused legal solutions we deliver to businesses across the region and nationally.”

With eight offices located throughout Cornwall and Devon, Coodes Solicitors has built a well-deserved reputation for providing individuals and businesses with exceptional legal services and is recognised as a leading law firm in both the Legal 500 and UK Chambers and Partners guides.

While its more than 275-year history and roots lie firmly in the South West, it is also of increasing national significance, both for the level of expertise it offers, in wide-ranging and niche areas of legal practice, and its growth into an £11 million-plus business, placing it among the top four per cent of UK law firms by turnover.