NORTH-East law firm Ward Hadaway has made two appointments to its commercial litigation department.

IT dispute practitioner TIM TOOMEY joins as a partner from IT law firm v-lex ltd, which he co-founded in 2000.

PAULA MYERS joins as an associate from Robert Muckle. She has particular expertise in the field of professional negligence and minority shareholder disputes. She is also an accredited mediator.

Ward Hadaway's head of commercial litigation, Ian Collinson, said: "Tim and Paula's appointments represent the next stage in our development and the continuing drive to provide businesses with first-class services."