This week's North East appointments

Harmeet Singh Sanghera, PG Legal

A regional law firm has appointed a new solicitor to its property team as a key member of staff completes his training.

Harmeet Singh Sanghera, who has been with PG Legal for three years, now becomes a fully-qualified solicitor at the firm, within its commercial property team.

His specialisms include commercial leases, sales and purchases, land and business sales and acquisitions, with clients across a range of sectors from local charities and micro businesses to some of the region’s leading SMEs.

Harmeet, who graduated from Northumbria University with a first class degree in law, said: “I am thrilled to have completed my training and to have become a fully-qualified solicitor.

“PG Legal is a fantastic firm to work for and I look forward to continuing to develop my career alongside a group of passionate and dynamic professionals.”

Graeme Cook, AVID Technology Group

UK automotive clean-tech firm AVID Technology Group has appointed Graeme Cook as operations director.

He brings over 15 years of experience leading high-skilled engineering businesses in the aerospace, automotive, defence, rail and energy sectors.

Graeme’s most recent roles include executive director at Reece Group, the North East-based global exporter of defence, energy, and utilities technology.

He’s also held senior management roles at Responsive Engineering and CAV Aerospace, where he ran a large-scale operation and set up manufacturing facilities around the world producing safety critical aerospace structures.

Ryan Maughan, managing director at AVID Technology, said: “Graeme brings some amazing experience to AVID. His appointment is hugely significant as we begin to rapidly scaleup our manufacturing operations.

“Attracting someone with his breadth of experience in setting up and running manufacturing facilities, particularly specialising in high-volume and safety critical components and systems, will be a great benefit to AVID as we move forward.”

Isabelle Edmondson, Jacksons

Law firm Jacksons has appointed a residential conveyancing expert to head up its new build team in Newcastle.

Solicitor Isabelle Edmondson joins Jacksons after spending three years with a Scottish law firm in the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Originally from Consett, Isabelle left the North East to attend Dundee University where she gained a law degree and completed a Diploma in Legal Practice (equivalent to Legal Practice Course in England).

Isabelle’s appointment follows the success of the firm’s new build team in Jacksons’ Tees Valley office. Associate solicitor Jonathan Wall is head of department and supported by a sub team manager, one paralegal, an experienced secretary and two apprentices.

Senior partner, Geoff Skeoch, said: “We are delighted to welcome Isabelle to Jacksons. It has been interesting to watch the new build team grow over the last year and to see what Jonathan and his colleagues have achieved in the Tees Valley and surrounding area.

“I have no doubt Isabelle will have the same success in the North of the region as she develops her network of contacts and clients.”

Isabelle added: “It was always my intention to come home to the North East after university and having gained some legal experience.

“I was immediately attracted to the quality of the work being done by the team at Jacksons and their attention to high standards of client care. I’m very excited about what the future holds for me and the new build team at Jacksons.”

Hodgson Sayers

Hodgson Sayers has revealed a number of senior appointments in varying positions across the business.

Michael Castling and Stuart Ford join as contract managers; Gary Branninghan has been appointed business development manager; and Jessica Herron joins as an admin apprentice.

Meanwhile, Ashley Dickie and Jack Franklin are the company’s first management apprentices and Brian Turnbull has been appointed as project manager.

Various internal promotions have also been announced. Peter Condren steps up to operations manager and Julian Gibson and Chris Ingham join Alan Harrison and Darren Ellis as contracts managers.

Meanwhile, Tim Read has been appointed estimator/quantity surveyor, Kin Ma as BIM & ERP systems integrator; James Rolt as SHEQ manager; and Mark English as metalwork manager.

Natalia Lalas, Swinburne Maddison LLP

Swinburne Maddison LLP has appointed an experienced family lawyer who is also a deputy district judge.

Natalia Lalas, who was appointed a deputy district judge in March this year, has Higher Rights of Audience, which allow her to represent clients in all courts.

She has lectured on the law relating to financial cases following divorce and acts as a specialist family solicitor for Durham Police Federation, representing police officers and employees across a wide range of issues.

She joins Swinburne Maddison as an associate solicitor and will work with clients seeking advice on divorce, financial matters, children, cohabitees and surrogacy.

Natalia added: “Swinburne Maddison is an award-winning law firm which already has an outstanding reputation for its work across all service lines and I am delighted to have the opportunity to become part of its highly talented team.

“This is a superb opportunity to build on my experience and to enhance the range of legal support already on offer at the firm within the family department.”

Watson Woodhouse Solicitors

Watson Woodhouse Solicitors is to welcome a new conveyancing team to its Stockton office.

The team will consist of two well respected and experienced conveyancers, Jackie Howard and Geoff Gardner, from a firm in Stockton, who combined have achieved over 80 years of conveyancing experience.

Jackie has previously worked for another local firm for 18 months prior to the move to Watson Woodhouse Solicitors.

Geoff Gardner has worked for many firms and continually maintains a high reputation with each and every one of his clients.

Also joining the team are their trusted support staff, including: Katie Gibson, Lorna Bailey and Chloe Lawson who have over 40 years conveyancing experience between them.

The team specialise in both freehold and leasehold transactions, and can assist with sales and purchases, transfer of equity, re-mortgages and new build property and development.

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