Pictured above: Qamer Ghafoor

Derby law firm Flint Bishop LLP has announced the promotion of Qamer Ghafoor to equity partner.

Qamer, who heads-up the firm's commercial dispute resolution (CDR) team, becomes Flint Bishop's first equity partner appointment in the last eight years.

Qamer joined Flint Bishop in January 2003; his drive and determination fast tracked him to a partner in November 2005 and became head of commercial litigation two years later.

Qamer has totally transformed the department, both in terms of the quality of national instructions and complexity of commercial disputes that are being handled by CDR. 

In addition to managing a department of 14 fee earners and support staff, Qamer is regarded as an 'A-star litigator' with 'considerable experience in complex and technical commercial litigation', and is regarded as 'absolutely superb', with a case-handling mentality which is 'equal to City firms'. 

The practice is involved in proceedings all over the country, and consistently squares up against heavy-hitters from the region and nationally."

Under Qamer's guidance Flint Bishop's CDR department has grown into one of the biggest in the region with an excellent reputation in heavyweight and technical commercial and property litigation claims.

Commenting on the appointment, managing partner Ken Dixon said:

"Qamer is an exceptional talent and real asset to our firm. His promotion reflects the fantastic contribution that he has made to the development of his litigation team, which is now one of the strongest in the region."

Qamer added:

"I am delighted to become the firm's first new equity partner in eight years. My objective is to raise the profile of the department further and position it as a viable alternative to London firms. This strategy appears to be working as we are now advising numerous commercial clients (including insurers) from outside the East Midlands."