Congratulations to our new Associate Partners – Daniel and Victoria

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from our Property team – Daniel Ratcliff and Victoria Smalley have both been promoted to Associate Partner.

These well-deserved promotions are a fantastic reflection of their hard work, dedication, and the positive impact they’ve each made across the firm. They also highlight our continued focus on supporting career development and recognising talent from within.

Both Daniel and Victoria play key roles in our busy conveyancing department, which is led by James Burford, Partner and Head of Property. Commenting on this latest news, James said:

“These well-deserved promotions recognise Daniel and Victoria’s exceptional contribution to the firm. Their professionalism, commitment, and drive have been key to the continued growth and success of our property team in particular. It’s a privilege to work alongside them, both as colleagues and as friends.”

Meet our new Associate Partners

Victoria first joined Scott Bailey back in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant in the property team, before qualifying as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2016. Since then, her reputation for exceptional client care and attention to detail has gone from strength to strength. When she joined us, our property department was a small team of four – it’s now grown to seventeen, and Victoria has been part of that journey every step of the way.

Reflecting on her promotion, Victoria said:

“I’m very proud to be promoted to this role and take it as a great honour that the firm has had faith in me and supported me throughout my time here. Scott Bailey has always allowed me to balance my career with family life and has given me every opportunity to progress. I’m grateful to the partners for their support and look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth.”

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After studying law at Southampton Solent University, Daniel began his career in compliance and legal practice before joining us in 2021 as a Chartered Legal Executive. Since then, he’s become an integral part of the Property team, helping to improve processes, support junior colleagues, and strengthen how we work together as a department.

Daniel, like Victoria, is delighted with his recent promotion, and said:

“Scott Bailey has grown significantly over the past four years, but one thing that’s always remained constant is its core values and commitment to its people. The firm’s dedication to training and progression, from the solicitor apprenticeship scheme to the internal career pathways, really highlights how invested it is in staff development and the future of the business. I’m delighted to be promoted to Associate Partner and look forward to helping the firm continue its success.”

Celebrating well-deserved achievements

Daniel and Victoria’s achievements are something for the whole firm to be proud of. Their promotions are a great example of what can be achieved through dedication, teamwork, and a shared commitment to our clients and colleagues.

A huge congratulations to them both on this exciting next chapter in their careers!