Pictured above: Rajinderpaul Singh Bains, a specialist Civil and Commercial Litigation solicitor, is the new partner in residence at Challinors' Halesowen practice

Rajinderpaul Singh Bains, a specialist Civil and Commercial Litigation solicitor, has taken up residence as partner of the Halesowen practice of Midlands law firm Challinors. 

Thirty-year old Raj moves to Challinors White & Billingham - created when Challinors acquired White & Billingham, Halesowen's largest single site law practice, in August 2009 - from the firm's West Bromwich office.

As partner in residence, Raj will manage the Halesowen practice, its estate agency business and its 24 staff, as well as provide businesses across Halesowen, the Black Country and Worcestershire, with specialist litigation advice, supported by Challinors' extensive civil and commercial litigation teams based throughout the firm's Midlands-wide network of offices.

"The new litigation team in Halesowen presents a fresh approach and innovative alternative for local businesses. I'm looking forward to working closely with Halesowen, the Black Country and Worcestershire's thriving manufacturing, commercial and business community, as well as supporting the incumbent team at Halesowen, that includes Steve Kelsall, John Chapple and Richard Price, previously partners at White & Billingham and consultants in the new-look practice since its amalgamation with Challinors."

Raj joined Challinors as a trainee after graduating from Nottingham Trent University. He qualified in September 2003, was promoted to Associate in May 2006 and became a partner in October 2009.

His litigation experience covers an extensive range of corporate and insolvency work, and Raj has acted for commercial clients within the financial, industrial and property sectors. He has developed a particular expertise in commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes and has wide-ranging experience, particularly in possession proceedings, forfeiture, dilapidation claims and lease renewal proceedings; Raj has dealt with some high profile matters in this field.

"Every prosperous commercial area needs litigation advice from time to time, and in my opinion this is definitely the case in Halesowen. Challinors White & Billingham is in the unusual position of being able to offer the full range of commercial legal services by virtue of being part of Challinors' 200-plus strong team across the Midlands. Furthermore, the Halesowen practice builds on the solid foundation of an exceptionally strong reputation in the area, focussed on a personal, down-to-earth service, earned by White & Billingham during its 25-years in the town."

Challinors' commercial litigation team includes a 17-strong Business and Serious Crime Department, headed by Ghulam Sohail, which since 2006 has received the highest rankings for criminal work in the West Midlands' in the Chambers & Partners Directory, the UK's most respected guide to the leading solicitors and barristers in over 70 specialist areas of law. 

Through its estate agency, the practice also offers comprehensive property marketing, sales and lettings services. It also has its own in-house fully qualified and registered surveyor Penny Sperring, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and a qualified surveyor, who has practised for more than 20 years.