Chris Wright and Janet Humphries have joined Midlands law firm Thursfields taking numbers in the business department to 14.

Mr Wright, a former pupil of Kings School, is based at the Worcester office as an associate solicitor, moving from London firm Bracher Rawlins where he was a partner.

He has considerable experience in a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including company and business acquisitions and disposals, private equity financing, software and technology licensing and agency and distribution agreements.

In addition, he is a company secretary of a number of businesses and handles everything from new share issues to share buy-backs.

Ms Humphries has joined the Kidderminster office as an associate solicitor from Birmingham firm, the Wilkes Partnership where she was a partner.

She advises on a full range of transactional and company work. In the past she worked for the venture capitalist 3i for eight years where she was responsible for providing legal advice and implementing 3i's investment programme.

Stephen Wyer, head of the business department, said: "We are delighted to be joined by Chris and Janet who bring important experience and expertise which will benefit all of our clients."

Thursfields has also appointed divorce solicitor Lesley Wickers as an associate.

She joins the existing family team which includes associate Susan Humes and Sarah Mason at the firm's Worcester family department.

Paul Gammon, head of family law at Thursfields, said: "Lesley is a particularly important addition to our family department.

"She has considerable experience in divorce cases where the issues are complex and assets have been very substantial often running into millions."