People on the move: Freeman Fisher; Horwich Farrelly; Concept Life Sciences; Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors

Manchester-based commercial law firm Freeman Fisher has announced the arrival of two new heads of department who will play a pivotal role in achieving the firm’s plans for continuing growth as it approaches the end of its fifth year in business.

Alex Walsh joins from Russell and Russell to head up the firms’ commercial property department with Stephen Robinson, formerly of Ward Hadaway, spearheading the employment department alongside former Addleshaw Goddard Associate Sinead Keenan.

Robinson, who has more than 17 years’ experience, is recognised by Legal 500 as “excellent” and “very responsive” and is well known for giving user-friendly, sound strategic commercial advice.

Freeman Fisher managing partner Alex Megaw said: “Our growth plans have been driven by our clients’ needs for additional services to those in commercial/corporate and commercial litigation that are the cornerstones of our practice. We are delighted that Stephen and Alex have joined us in our next phase, and we will be bringing in more quality personnel this year.”

Other areas of Freeman Fishers’ expertise include corporate and commercial, dispute resolution, insolvency and regulatory.

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Horwich Farrelly, the specialist insurance industry law firm, has announced technology expert, Chris Jekiel as IT director, based in its Manchester office.

Having held senior IT positions in a wide range of companies, including McDonald’s, Xchanging and Computacenter, Jekiel brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his new position.

Jekiel will be heading a department of 70 IT professionals, where his immediate tasks are supporting the launch of a new case management system – the firm’s biggest ever change programme – and ensuring the firm’s IT platforms are sufficiently robust and able to scale as the business diversifies and expands.

He said: “I am thrilled to be taking up this role, in a law firm that is so successful within its specific sector. As well as leading the technical teams behind the firm’s new case management system, I will be developing the technology roadmap to improve agility, efficiency and sustainability, which includes adopting ‘paper light’ technology across the firm’s six offices.”

Horwich Farrelly chairman John O’Roarke said: “The insurance market is changing faster than ever with ever increasing pressures placed on improving efficiencies, without compromising the quality of the services we provide. Central to our business strategy is our new case management system which has seen more than 100 colleagues collaborate on the project. Now, with an experienced IT leader in place in the form of Chris Jekiel we look forward to executing our final launch plan.”

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Manchester-based Concept Life Sciences, the integrated drug discovery, development and analytical services company, has appointed Dr Michael Donaldson as principal scientist in its dermal department, and Dr Tim Calvert as vice president of business development, integrated discovery services, Europe.

Calvert has extensive experience in the delivery of integrated drug discovery and development solutions, supporting organisations ranging from virtual companies to global pharma.

Hejoins Concept from Aptuit where he held various roles, most recently senior director of Integrated Drug Development, during which time he was responsible for executing complex and accelerated drug development programmes.

Prior to joining Aptuit, he was at Lonza, where he led and secured Israel’s first gene therapy development programme, Catalent Pharma Solutions, and Invitrogen.

Donaldson has more than 17 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical development and manufacturing industry. Most recently he was director of biology in dermatology terapy a
rea at GlaxoSmithKline.

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Specialist solicitor Patrick Swanney has joined Lancashire law firm Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors (WHN) as a solicitor at its Accrington office.

Swanney, aged 32, specialises in estate and tax planning, will preparation, Court of Protection work and estate administration. He will work alongside WHN’s head of Wills and Probate Stephen Parr.

He joined WHN after a year as a solicitor at Smith Sutcliffe in Padiham. Previously, he worked for eight years at Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors, including two years as a partner/director and six as a solicitor.

Swanney also completed his solicitor training contract at Watson Ramsbottom after undertaking a LLB law degree in at Sheffield Hallam University and his Legal Practice Course at The University of Sheffield.

Originally from the Accrington and Great Harwood area, Swanney moved to Weir in Rossendale four years ago.

He is a member of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley Dementia Action Alliance, and a Dementia Friends Champion, as well as a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Society. In addition, Patrick is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) which enables him to give expert advice to older clients in relation to issues such as long-term care funding.