Member Article

This week’s North West appointments

Stockport law firm, Gorvins, has appointed two new solicitors to strengthen its employment and litigation/dispute resolution teams, Ed Gregory, Senior Employment Law Associate and Peter Speight, Dispute Resolution Associate.

Ed, who was previously with city centre firm Addleshaw Goddard, is a highly experienced employment lawyer with particular expertise in advising commercial clients on tribunal litigation, business change and business protection issues as well as advising on their internal investigations.

Peter joins Gorvins from a national legal practice as a newly qualified associate. He will be focussing on insolvency and restructuring work as part of the dispute resolution team enjoying its third year of growth.

Lorraine Lockie, Managing Partner, said: “As we expand we are committed to bringing in high quality individuals like Ed and Peter as well as promoting from within to make sure we keep providing the very best legal advice to our commercial clients.”

Paul Hughes, Walker Smith Way Legal

Solicitor Paul Hughes has been promoted to Associate solicitor at its Ashton-Under-Lyne office after providing specialist legal services at the firm for four years.

Paul, who joined Walker Smith Way Legal in 2010 from Thornleys Solicitors, has over 25 years’ experience handling a number of personal injury cases.

Commenting on the promotion, managing partner and director, Neil Turnbull, said: “As a firm, we recognise that the success of our business is totally dependent upon developing the very best people.

“Paul has a unique understanding of this area of law, helping those who have sustained personal injuries gain the support and compensation they deserve.”

Chris Kerry, NatWest

NatWest has appointed Chris Kerry as Director of Commercial Banking St Helens and Warrington.

In his new role Chris will be leading a team of senior relationship managers as they look to support customers’ business aspirations working closely with the professional community and other stakeholders.

Born in St Helens Chris has more than 30 years of banking experience throughout the North West.

He has been leading commercial banking teams for NatWest for the last 10 years.

Philip Laidlow, Leanne Booth, Saadia Javed, Gateley

The Manchester office of law firm, Gateley, has welcomed a team of four lawyers to its Private Client team with the appointment of partner, Philip Laidlow, solicitors Leanne Booth, Saadia Javed and a further solicitor to arrive in January on completion of maternity leave.

Philip is a leading industry figure and has had a number of articles and books published.

He is author of Tolley’s Tax Planning for Post-death Variations, editor of Tolley’s Tax Havens and regularly contributes articles to a range of industry journals.

He is also a founder member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a former chairman of its Manchester and East Midlands branches.

Leanne, who is vice chair of the Manchester branch of STEP, has extensive expertise in advising the executors of large estates on complex financial arrangements, business and agricultural property, lifetime gifts and trust planning.

Laura specialises in advising high net worth individuals on estate planning to reduce capital gains tax and inheritance tax liabilities.

She has advised on the preparation of wills and trusts in succession planning and is experienced in issues affecting the elderly, particularly in relation to asset protection.

Saadia has experience in a range of private client matters, including estate and trust administration, estate and inheritance tax planning and wills.

Philip Laidlow commented: “This is an exciting time to be joining the firm and I look forward to developing our service offering. Boasting a range of specialities, the Manchester and wider team is well placed to meet the legal and financial advisory needs of the individuals we represent.”

Larry Waller, Together Trust

North West specialist care and education charity, the Together Trust, has appointed Larry Waller as head of business development to support its future plans for expansion.

Larry joins from Barnardo’s and brings twenty years of experience in social care from his work with vulnerable children, young people and families.

In his four year career as one of the national charity’s business development managers, he previously designed and delivered a range of procurement and funding solutions designed to drive growth.

Larry will help deliver a number of key strategic initiatives including developing business growth across the North West, improving capabilities within the business and forging strong partnerships with other organisations.

Mark Lee, chief executive of the Together Trust, said: “As we approach our 150th birthday, it’s vital that we continue to develop our services in a sustainable manner that is commercially astute and serves to shape our success for the future.

“Larry’s expertise makes him well placed to initiate the plans necessary that will ensure we broaden our reach and remain an integral provider of person centred services for young people across the region.”

Peter Campbell, Lauren Thompson, Diane Ellis, Lindsay Whitley , WYG

WYG has announced four senior appointments to its Manchester planning team, following an increase in new business after its acquisition of Alliance Planning in September.

Peter Campbell joins as a Town Planner from Deloitte; Lauren Thompson has joined as a Senior Planner from Cheshire East Council; Diane Ellis has joined as an Associate Planner from Consilium Planning; and Lindsay Whitley is the latest recruit to the Manchester office, joining from IBI Group as a Principal Urban Designer.

Lindsay is the first Manchester-based Urban Designer to be recruited to the office, and will work alongside the wider planning, engineering, highway and environment teams at WYG.

Elsewhere in the North West, Peter Shannon joins the Cumbria office from Allerdale Council as a Senior Planner.

Paul Shuker, Director of the Manchester and Cumbria Planning teams said: “It has been an exciting time for the team as our overall business has gone from strength to strength over the last twelve months.

“We continue to deliver innovative and complex projects for our clients and partners across a diverse range of sectors, and I am delighted to announce these appointments in order to allow us to meet current and future clients’ needs moving forward.”

Kate Handel, Andrew Bogle, Jason Thomas and Paul Makinson, Walker Smith Way Legal

Jason Thomas and Paul Makinson, associate solicitors have been made partners after over a decade of providing expert legal advice to Chester businesses and individuals.

Jason, who is 42 and grew up in Chester, trained with Storrar Cowdry before moving to Walker Smith Way Legal in 2002 when he qualified as a solicitor.

His promotion follows 12 years’ service at Walker Smith Way Legal. He is a key member of the firm’s residential property team and is renowned for his personable, hands-on approach to buying and selling property.

Paul Makinson has also developed his career with the firm.

He was appointed as trainee by Walker Smith Way Legal in 2001 and has been promoted after assisting in the development of its commercial property team.

Meanwhile, solicitors Kate Handel, 34 and Andrew Bogle, 60 have been promoted to Associate solicitor.

Kate, who is originally from Clare in the Republic of Ireland, joined the firm’s Wills, trusts and probate department in 2012.

She specialises in trusts, Wills and probate, court of protection and lasting powers of attorney.

Andrew, who is originally from Liverpool, is a highly experienced solicitor having practiced at firms across the North West including Bermans, Thelwall Fagan and Hill Dickinson.

The 60 year-old’s expertise lies in commercial litigation.

He advises firms across the Chester area on contract disputes, banking and insolvency litigation matters.

Commenting on the promotions, managing partner, Neil Turnbull, said: “As a firm, we recognise that the success of our business is totally dependent upon developing and attracting the very best people.

“Jason, Paul, Kate and Andrew have all delivered fantastic results to strengthen service, while helping more people across Chester gain access to expert legal advice.”

Mark Woodward, Vantage Motor Group

Vantage Motor Group has appointed an East Lancashire Business Centre Manager to spearhead its growth in the regional fleet market.

Mark Woodward, from Adlington, near Chorley, will be responsible for business sales at the Vantage Toyota Preston, Blackburn, Colne and Grange-over-Sands dealerships in this newly created role, after three years with the company.

Mark, who brings ten years’ motor industry experience to the new role, will prioritise increasing Vantage’s sales in the Lancashire fleet market.

He will do this by ensuring that businesses in the area are aware of the Vantage brand and the extensive advice and support on offer from the company.

Commenting on the appointment, Mark Robinson, Chief Executive of Vantage Motor Group, said: “Mark’s invaluable experience in the motor industry and his intimate knowledge of the Toyota brand meant he was the perfect choice for this role.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to have Mark with us for a few years now and he has more than merited this promotion.

“Our Preston dealership is perfectly placed to cater for this market with many businesses close by, and we look forward to continuing to deliver a high standard of service to all our customers in the region.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .