This week’s North West appointments

Four appointments, Paul Crowley & Co. Solicitors

Liverpool law firm Paul Crowley & Co has boosted its clinical negligence and personal injury operations with a raft of new appointments.

The company will welcome solicitor Hayley Webster to its newly expanded personal injury team and legal executive Carol Cook to its clinical negligence department.

Paul Crowley & Co made the appointments as part of a strategy to shore up its offering as a client-focused compensation claims specialist.

Elsewhere, the firm has developed a new sub-division of the personal injury department to cater specifically for clients who have fallen ill on holiday.

Hayley Webster will lead this new sub-department, with the addition of Lynsey Campbell in the role of legal assistant. Their work will cover cases ranging from salmonella to more serious long-term conditions like kidney failure.

Further, Paul Crowley & Co has appointed new legal assistant Chloe Welsh to its clinical negligence team. Chloe previously worked for law firm Hill Dickinson and has experience in industrial disease and accident claims.

Tracy Thompson, managing partner at Paul Crowley & Co, said: “With a number of new staff appointments and the incorporation of the holiday sickness claims sub-department, Paul Crowley & Co has been able to significantly boost its compensation claims offering over the last few months. I’m certain that our new team members will only enhance this offering.

“Building strong relationships based on confidence and trust is central to our professional approach to client care here at Paul Crowley & Co.”

She continued: “This is particularly important when it comes to clients who might need that extra support after suffering an accident, whether it be at work, in hospital or on holiday.

“With more appointments on the horizon, we will now strive to build upon our first class customer service levels whilst continuing to grow as a firm.”

John Sullivan, Colliers International

Real estate firm Colliers International has announced a senior appointment in its industrial and logistics team.

The company has welcomed John Sullivan in the role of director at its offices in Manchester.

John, who previously served as the head of the Manchester industrial department at commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton, has over 15 years’ experience in advising public and private clients on acquisition and disposal instructions.

Prior to his work with Lambert Smith Hampton, John held positions at estate agents Knight Frank and Matthews & Goodman.

At Colliers, John will work closely with newly appointed senior surveyor Laura Wilbourn and fellow director Chris Evans, in addition to Robert Whatmuff and Simon Hill of Colliers’ office in Leeds.

John commented: “Having spent nine years at LSH, I’m ready for a new challenge and relish the opportunity to join a truly global organisation such as Colliers International.”

The head of Colliers International’s industrial and logistics team, Len Rosso, said: “John is a well-known and respected member of the Manchester property community and his experience in advising high profile occupiers and developers in the industrial field is second to none.

“We look forward to welcoming John to the team.”

John will join Colliers next month.

Len Rosso said: “Julien has been a stalwart member of the team since 2004 and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him for his dedication and commitment to Colliers International during his impressive length of service. We wish Julien the very best in all his future endeavours.”

Wendy Randall, David Jones and Anne Scheland, Hillyer McKeown

North West law firm Hillyer McKeown has promoted three of its most experienced solicitors.

Anne Scheland has become a senior associate in the company’s corporate team, while Wendy Randall has been promoted to senior associate in the wills, trusts and estates team.

Further, solicitor David Jonesis now an associate in Hillyer McKeown’s commercial and employment department.

The promotions come at a time of growth for the company, which has seen staff numbers increase by 38% over the last 18 months and revenues across its four regional offices rise to £6.4m in the last financial year.

Partner Lindsey Kidd said: “These promotions are richly deserved and form a key part of our ongoing expansion plans.

“The overriding objective of our business plan is to provide unrivalled client service and, in the case of our commercial clients, to help them build successful and growing businesses.

“It is vital that we continue to promote and recruit the region’s leading talent if we are to provide our clients with the very best professional and wider commercial services.”

Image L-R: Neil Whatford, Clayre Massey, Marie Leyland, Jonathan Davis and Paul Hughes

Five appointments, Sheppard Robson

Architectural firm Sheppard Robson has announced a series of senior staff promotions at its 70-strong Manchester office.

Marie Leyland, who heads up the office’s interior design group ID:SR, is now an associate partner.

Neil Whatford, Jonathan Davis, Clayre Massey and Paul Hughes, meanwhile, have also been promoted to associate level.

Sheppard Robson designed a number of projects across the North West, including Manchester Metropolitan University’ Citylabs and Brooks Building.

The practice’s ongoing regional projects include the New Victoria mixed-use development and the ongoing City Tower refurb.

Susan Warburton, Business Growth Hub

Business Growth Hub has appointed Susan Warburton as innovation business development manager for the University of Bolton.

Susan, who has over 25 years’ business development experience, previously worked in senior business support positions at the Business Growth Service and companies such as software agency Magma Digital.

As innovation business development manager for Bolton uni, Susan will work as part of the Hub’s innovation growth service to serve as a link between companies and the university.

Susan’s role will see her promoting engagement with the university’s academic schools, research institutes and employers, creating opportunities for businesses to innovate and grow.

Susan said: “Centres of research and innovation such as University of Bolton are powerful assets, and have the potential to contribute a great deal to the growth ambitions of Greater Manchester’s business community.

“With collaboration between the Hub’s Innovation team, businesses, and the university, we can inspire new, innovative ideas that can translate to successful businesses.”

She added: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be at the heart of that process and I’m excited about the possibilities this partnership brings.”

The Hub’s head of innovation and programme development, Chris Greenhalgh, commented: “Susan’s appointment marks an important step as we continue the process of developing our relationships with major academic institutions.

“With the expertise and research capability on offer at the four universities, we will be able to make access to their expertise and facilities simpler, supporting SMEs to innovate in this increasingly competitive environment.”

He continued: “Susan has the experience and aptitude to be a key driver of that process and I am delighted to welcome her to the team.”

Paul Valentine and Chris Lawton, Begbies Traynor

Begbies Traynor, the business recovery and insolvency practitioner, has appointed two new insolvency managers at its Preston office.

Paul Valentine has joined the company from McAlister & Co Insolvency and has 13 years of insolvency experience covering the whole of the region.

Chris Lawton, meanwhile, will bring over 11 years of insolvency industry experience to Begbies Traynor, having previously worked for Duff & Phelps, Leonard Curtis and other firms in the sector.

The director of Begbies Traynor’s Preston-based corporate insolvency team, Ian McCulloch, said: “It’s great to have two such high calibre experienced insolvency professionals as Chris and Paul coming on board.

“Both have a great track record of assisting local accountancy practices who have clients who are encountering financial difficulties and they add to the depth of our team at the Preston office.”

Ian added: “As demand for our services grows in the region, we are investing in more local staff to provide an ever improving service to our clients.”

Paul commented: “I’m looking forward to my new role with Begbies Traynor, which continues to be such a strong brand in the market and is constantly adapting and evolving.

“Over the years I’ve worked closely with all kinds of businesses, from sole traders and partnerships to micro companies and medium enterprises and I know how important it is to understand clients’ backgrounds and their predicament, but also their objectives. I’m excited about bringing that expertise to bear in my insolvency manager role for clients across Lancashire and Cumbria.”

Chris said: “I’m relishing the challenge of this new role and looking forward to getting out on the road and meeting business directors face to face. It’s always a stressful time when a business is facing insolvency but there is a lot that we can do to help and that is always the satisfying part of the job.”

Dylan Smith, DueCourse

Manchester-based fintech firm DueCourse, which provides an invoice financing service for SMEs, has announced the appointment of former Apple engineer Dylan Smith in the role of technical architect.

With DueCourse, Dylan will work to enhance the company’s big data capabilities with high-level software architecture, helping to develop DueCourse’s product and supporting its growth plans.

Commenting on his appointment Dylan, who was previously based at Apple’s offices in London, said: “I’m looking forward to becoming part of the DueCourse team and I think this is going to be a great new challenge for me.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about Manchester’s digital and technology sector so I can’t wait to move up north and get started.”

DueCourse’s co-founder and CEO, Paul Haydock, said: “We’re always delighted when we have the opportunity to bring in and work with the very best people in the industry, and Dylan is a fantastic addition to the team.

“With the help of his expertise, fresh perspective and ambitious outlook we’re confident he’ll be a valuable asset to DueCourse and we’re excited to see what he can bring to the company.”

Jason Maher and Adrian Jackson, Condy Lofthouse

Condy Lofthouse, the Liverpool-based architecture practice, has strengthened its board with two new members.

Jason Maher and Adrian Jackson, who both joined the company in 2000 and were made associates in 2007, have taken the firm’s board to six members.

Condy Lofthouse director Andy Armstrong said: “Jason and Adrian bring tremendous energy and expertise to the board, as well as fresh perspectives.

“The market remains strong and the appointments will help us grow in our key sectors of healthcare, housing and education.”

Nick Laird, Lloyds Bank

Lloyds Bank has appointed Nick Laird as its regional managing director for mid markets in the North of England and Scotland.

Nick will take on his new role next month, reporting to managing director of mid markets and SME banking Tim Hinton and leading a relationship team of 120 who support business clients turning over between £25m and £750m.

He succeeds Alasdair Gardner, who has been appointed Lloyds’ head of global corporates North America.

Nick’s experience spans a range of roles in corporate banking. He joined Lloyds Banking Group in 2013 and has since deepened this commercial banking experience with a variety of senior roles.

Tim Hinton said: “Alasdair’s new role in North America is testament to the great work he has done in building our profile and our business.

“He will be greatly missed by clients, but this is an exciting opportunity for him to further his career within the Group and I wish him every success.”

He continued: “During his time with the Group, Nick has demonstrated that he has the right skill-set to support our Mid Markets clients and to lead the team in the North of England and Scotland.

“He is inheriting a strong team that is fully committed to supporting businesses as they seek to navigate through the current economic uncertainty and to helping them capitalise upon the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Commenting upon his new role, Nick said: “Strong and vibrant economies in both the North of England and Scotland are critical to the UK’s ongoing prosperity.

“Our long-standing commitment to support clients and to help fund their growth ambitions is even more important given the current more challenging economic environment.”

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