LAW firm Ward Hadaway has announced 14 promotions - the largest number since 1988.

Eight associates have been invited to join the partnership and six solicitors have been promoted to associate positions.

Of the new partners, two specialise in litigation and the others work in corporate finance, business services, IT and intellectual property, employment, private client and pensions.

CLAIRE COLLINSON started at Ward Hadaway as a trainee and has worked her way up, specialising in commercial litigation. Joining Claire as partner is litigation colleague KATHRYN MYERS, who specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation.

DUNCAN REID, who joined the firm from Pinsent Masons last year, has corporate transaction experience and has become an integral part of the corporate finance team in the short time since he joined Ward Hadaway.

DAMIEN CHARLTON specialises in company and commercial law and has become a partner.

JUDY BAKER also becomes a partner. She has developed extensive knowledge of information technology since joining Ward Hadaway as a trainee in 1996, and advises public and private sector clients on information technology, intellectual property and data protection and freedom of information matters.

Employment partner MARIAN MARTIN has specialised in contentious and non-contentious employment law since being admitted as a solicitor in 1987 and sits as part-time chairman of the Employment Tribunal in Newcastle.

ALISON BURN joined Ward Hadaway as a trainee in 1996 and has developed expertise in wills and probate, personal tax planning, preparation of trusts and power of attorney to earn her place as a private client partner.

TUSHAR BHATE has joined the firm as a partner, promoted from associate at Dickinson Dees, and will lead the firm's pensions team.

Of the six solicitors who have been made associates, EMMA FIRBANK and DEBORAH GILBERT specialise in litigation, KATHERINE HAY-HEDDLE and CRAIG SWINHOE in corporate finance, ANDREW BELLWOOD in property and LISA EVANS in healthcare.

Managing partner Jamie Martin said: "Newcastle has become a significant legal centre and at Ward Hadaway we are lucky to have some of the best legal talent in the firm."

Ward Hadaway has 53 partners and 29 associates.