24 Feb 2026
Freeths appoints Michelle Kirkland‑Elias as Corporate Partner amid continued expansion
"Freeths has appointed Michelle Kirkland‑Elias as a Partner in its Corporate team; she will work on corporate, international and hospitality matters. The firm has also added Partners Zum Mohammed and Louise Mahon."
Michelle Kirkland‑Elias joins Freeths as a Partner in the firm’s Corporate team, having been appointed from CMS. She brings over 15 years’ experience advising UK and global clients on a wide range of often multi‑jurisdictional corporate matters, including inbound and outbound mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, reorganisations and restructurings, complex corporate governance issues and general corporate advisory work. Her practice has a strong international dimension, advising on cross‑border transactions and commercial arrangements across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Michelle has particular expertise in the hospitality and leisure sector, advising on hotel-related matters, branded residences, members’ clubs and hospitality-led workspaces, including acquisitions and disposals of individual assets and portfolios, management and franchise agreements, asset management arrangements and the corporate aspects of financing, refinancing and restructuring. She is recognised in the Legal 500 2025 as a Key Lawyer and a “noteworthy practitioner.”
Zum Mohammed has joined Freeths as a Partner in the London office, strengthening the firm’s private equity and mid‑market transactional capability.
Louise Mahon has joined Freeths as a Partner in the Glasgow office, which has expanded its workforce by 20% in 2025.