ESSEX commercial law firm Wollastons has made seven new appointments.Varsha Shah joined its commercial litigations department in October from a large regional firm.

ESSEX commercial law firm Wollastons has made seven new appointments.

Varsha Shah joined its commercial litigations department in October from a large regional firm. She has experience of a broad range of commercial disputes, including insolvency matters and contractual claims.

Patrick Gass has been a trainee solicitor at the firm since September 2005, and has now qualified into its employment department.

Francesca Hodges joined the family law team in November from a well-known regional firm. She will be assisting on a wide range of family matters, including divorce, separation and child-related issues.

Andrew Dongworth, Natasha Twaits and Laura Collingwood have joined as trainee solicitors and started their two years' training with the firm in September.

Maung Aye joined the corporate and commercial department in November from a law firm in Canary Wharf.

He will assist the five partner team in corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.