This week’s North West appointments

Emily Riley and Hollie Hines, Bugler Smith

Bugler Smith, the Cheshire-based brand communications agency, has grown its team with two appointments.

Emily Riley has joined the firm as an account manager in its marketing and events team, while Hollie Hines will strengthen Bugler Smith’s PR and social offer.

For her new role, Hollie relocated to Cheshire from London after spending over five years helping clients in the finance sector.

Emily’s experience includes work with marketing firms Portfolio and Blue Chip Marketing.

Bugler Smith’s founder and managing director, Lee Ashton, said: “We’ve continued to see sustained growth over the last two years, and we’re delighted to welcome Emily and Hollie to the team.

“Both will bring relevant knowledge and experience to the teams here and support our growth plans.”

Lee continued: “New briefs and client wins, many through recommendations, are testament to the skillset of the team we have here, and clearly demonstrate our ability to produce a wide range of innovative and exciting work.”

Ross Wellman, Vincents Solicitors

Lancashire law firm Vincents Solicitors has announced the appointment of lawyer Ross Wellman.

Ross, who qualified 30 years ago, is now the head of the Preston-based company’s commercial department.

Over the last three decades, he gained experience working with a number of large law firms in London and Manchester, including DWF, Penningtons and Halliwells, assisting national and international brands such as Taylor Wimpey, Manchester Airport Developments, Littlewoods, Nikal and RBS.

Most recently, Ross worked as a consulting solicitor for Manchester-based Setfords.

He commented: “Having been a solicitor for three decades, I can bring a great deal of experience to the team, along with a huge enthusiasm for the law.

“Whenever I think I know everything there is to know, I immediately find something new to get my head around. That’s what is so interesting about this profession, and I hope to share that knowledge and thirst with the more junior members of the team who I will be training.”

Vincents’ managing partner, Phillip Gilmore, said: “We are delighted to have a solicitor of Ross’ calibre and experience join the senior management team at Vincents.

“He’s held partner-level positions with some of the UK’s biggest law firms and his arrival is excellent news for both our commercial clients and the staff in that department.”

Phillip added: “We’re confident Ross will attract some exciting new clients and contribute significantly to the firm’s growth over the coming years.”

Hannah Kirk, Ashona Chakraborty and Anjali Patel, Blackstone Solicitors

North West law firm Blackstone Solicitors has expanded its team with two appointments and a promotion.

Hannah Kirk has joined the company in the role of litigation solicitor and Ashona Chakraborty as a residential paralegal. Paralegal Anjali Patel, meanwhile, has been given a training contract.

Hannah, who qualified in September last year, said: “I am excited by my career move to Blackstone Solicitors.

“I particularly enjoy dealing directly with clients, gaining their trust and proceeding to achieve great results for them. Undoubtedly this fits well into the Blackstone ethos.”

Ashona commented: “I am extremely happy to be starting my professional career at Blackstone and I hope to be here for the long-haul.

“I particularly enjoy acting on behalf of purchasers and corresponding with them throughout the course of their transaction – especially on completion when they’re finally new home owners.”

Anjali joined Blackstone in September 2016. At university, she achieved a First in Law and Legal Practice.

She said of her promotion: “I am determined and ambitious to progress my career at Blackstone Solicitors and am excited about the journey ahead!”

Managing director Emma Nawaz, who founded Blackstone in 2010, said: “We are delighted to welcome our two new starters and to offer a training contract to Anjali.

“I am an advocate of nurturing young talent and I feel confident that with guidance all three will continue to develop. All impressed me with their aptitude and most importantly their attitude and I am sure that they will complement our current team very well.”

Andrew Cooper, Assura plc

Assura plc, the Warrington-based healthcare property investor, has added a new senior chartered surveyor to its team.

Andrew Cooper joined the company following development and property management roles at Total Property Solutions and WM Morrison.

Andrew Darke, Assura property director, said: “We’re delighted to have Andrew joining us at such a busy time – we have some really innovative and ambitious programmes in motion but ultimately, it’s the skill and expertise of our team which deliver the fit-for-purpose buildings that GPs so desperately need.

“With the two biggest political parties both pledging to improve NHS buildings during the next parliament, this is a particularly crucial time to be expanding the range of our experience even further.”

Philip Robson, Kings Chambers

Manchester-based barristers and legal services provider Kings Chambers has appointed Philip Robson.

Philip, who was called to the bar in 2011, has joined the company from St Johns Chambers and specialises in all aspects of environmental, planning, local government and property law.

He said: “‘I’m delighted to join Kings Chambers, one of the most prestigious civil law sets in the UK.

“I was drawn to Kings not only because of their reputation but because I identify them as a forward-thinking chambers with a strong progressive ethos.”

He added: With a new leadership team at the helm, it’s a really exciting time to join the chambers.’’

Nigel Poole QC, head of chambers, commented: “We are thrilled to have someone of Philip’s calibre on board and we are confident that his varied experience will further strengthen the reputation of the chambers.

“His wide area of expertise will be indispensable and we are sure he’ll be right at home at Kings.’’

Anita Shepherd, Shoosmiths

Shoosmiths, the national law firm, has added to its Manchester-based family law team with the appointment of senior associate Anita Shepherd.

Anita, a specialist in high-value financial matters and sensitive cases involving children, has almost 20 years’ experience.

Previously, she worked as head of family at law firm Davis Blank Furniss.

Chris Longbottom, Shoosmiths’ head of family law in Manchester, said: “This is an exciting period of expansion for the Manchester office and Anita’s appointment is part of our continued investment in people to create an industry-leading family law team who are experts in advising high net worth individuals.”

Anita is a member of Resolution, the national organisation of family lawyers committed to non-confrontational approaches.

Shoosmiths partner Neil Hobden, national head of family law, commented: “We are always seeking to bring talented expert legal practitioners to Shoosmiths.

“The recruitment of Anita reflects this. She is well-known and respected in the region and her skills and expertise perfectly complement our existing family law service offering.”

He added: “We have an established reputation as go-to lawyers for high net worth individuals and bringing Anita on board will enable us to continue to build a formidable team in this area.”

Andy Herricks, Fletcher Day

Commercial law firm Fletcher Day has strengthened its Manchester team with the appointment of a corporate partner.

Andy Herricks has almost 20 years’ experience advising SMEs and owner-managed businesses in the region.

He works closely with accountants, banks and insolvency practitioners, undertaking a mix of corporate, commercial and intellectual property work.

Andy said: “I have joined an ambitious firm at an exciting time and I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues to grow the business in Manchester.

“We’ve got ambitious plans in place and with support from our London office we’re confident we will attract new recruits and clients from across the region.”

Fletcher Day managing partner Jude Fletcher commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Andy to our team in Manchester.

“We see Manchester as an important market for the growth of our firm and he is the first of a series of key appointments we are making in the city.”

Jude added: “With Andy’s appointment, we’ve significantly strengthened our corporate offering and he’s already generating new business from new and existing relationships which he has developed over recent years.”

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