People on the Move: Forbes Solicitors; ForHousing; BTP; Elan Homes; DTM Legal

Three members of staff at North West legal firm Forbes Solicitors are celebrating after qualifying as solicitors.

Olivia Jack, Michael Rutter and Lucy Bailey, all based in the Walton Summit office, are now beginning the next stage of their careers with the firm.

Olivia works in the dispute resolution department. She will be specialising in contentious trusts and probate work, while continuing to provide support on general civil and commercial dispute matters.

Michael works in the commercial property department acting for a wide range of commercial clients including companies of all sizes, and individuals.

He advises and assists on various property transactions including purchases, sales, leases and re-finances and also specialises in assisting agricultural clients with agricultural land and property transactions.

Lucy works in the dispute resolution department predominantly advising on commercial litigation. She has a particular interest in construction litigation and data protection claims.

Lucy will also assist other fee earners in the team with general commercial litigation matters.

Siobhan Hardy, senior partner at Forbes, said: “We are delighted that Olivia, Michael and Lucy are beginning the next stage of their careers with us and I wish them every success.”

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Henry Terefenko has been appointed as ForHousing chief executive from today, April 1, 2019.

ForHousing is part of the ForViva Group and will bring group members City West Housing Trust and Villages Housing Association under a single new landlord.

ForHousing will own and manage 24,000 homes across the North West, in Fylde, Knowsley, Oldham and Salford, and provides housing management services on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Henry began his career as a rent officer in 2008 at Salford City Council’s former arm’s-length management organisation, before transferring to ForViva group member City West Housing Trust upon stock transfer.

Since then he has gained considerable expertise in a range of roles across the group to become chief executive. His previous positions include commercial director at ForViva’s construction division, and director of operations leading the successful contract bid for the strategic management of 5,500 homes on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Henry Terefenko

Most recently Henry held the role of group director of communities at ForViva where he was responsible for key service areas including health and wellbeing, homelessness support services and employment and enterprise.

He said: “I look forward to leading the organisation and to working with a talented team to continue to provide tenant-focused services of the highest quality.

“We are committed to fuelling the potential of people in the communities we work in, improving lives and enabling possibilities for all.

“I am particularly passionate about reducing poverty and raising the aspirations of communities to improve economic and social sustainability.”

Henry also holds a number of board and advisory positions, including the Manchester Athena Board, Greater Manchester Health Steering Group, Cheshire West’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Ellesmere Port Development Board, Salford University Advisory Board for the built environment, and Cheshire West’s Poverty Truth Commission. Henry is also vice chair of governors for Whitby High School in Ellesmere Port.

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Manchester-based architecture and design practice BTP has promoted two of its most promising architects to associate level.

Leanne Taylor and Elliot Denby have worked for the company since 2017 and are both being supported by BTP to become RIBA-accredited conservation architects.

Leanne Taylor

They have both been promoted to associate level having played key roles in some of BTP’s high-profile projects, including large housing association schemes and unique heritage projects.

After qualifying in 2015, Leanne Taylor joined BTP in 2017 having worked in Singapore for three years where she gained a qualification in BIM management.

Elliot Denby has been promoted less than two years after qualifying and joining the practice having gained considerable experience across a range of residential and private projects.

BTP Architects managing director, Vicky Saunders, said: “Elliot and Leanne are both extremely skilled architects with an infectious passion for their work. It’s a privilege to have them on the team and to be able to invest in their careers as our business continues to grow.

Elliot Denby

“Preserving historic buildings, like churches and universities, is a particular area of expertise for us, so it’s fantastic to see that both Leanne and Elliot want to build on their knowledge and experience in this area with professional accreditations.

“I congratulate them both on their well-deserved promotions and look forward to seeing them continue to flourish at the practice.”

BTP is a highly-skilled team of architects and design professionals based near Manchester with a strong track record over the past 70 years in a range of architectural fields.

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Elan Homes has appointed Philip Palmer as its new land director for the Northern region in support of its growth plans.

The company focus is on traditionally-built open market developments providing family housing in sustainable, yet desirable locations.

Elan’s Northern business, based at Cheshire Oaks, is keen to build on its success and reputation across Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Flintshire.

Palmer said: “The challenge of heading up the land department for the Northern region is to maintain the quality, yet extend the land portfolio to ensure the delivery of the enhanced business growth strategy.

Philip Palmer

“The delivery of more land opportunities, with and without planning permissions, will allow a more flexible approach to the delivery of our business plan, allowing for time adjustments in the process, both in and out of our control.

“Wider economic conditions of low unemployment and interest rates allows for a positive outlook in land acquisition, coupled with the national housing shortage, there is a fundamental need for the delivery of more quality homes.”

Elan’s Northern business will consider development sites, with or without planning, up to 10 hectares in size, although the new strategic arm is working on much larger parcels of land across the country.

Palmer returns to work with members of Elan’s senior management team after a 13-year absence, saying the move was a “good fit” at this stage of his career.

He said: “I want to utilise my experience to assist in the delivery of the enhanced growth plan of the business, harnessing the recently-secured heightened private investment, and build upon the solid foundations that Elan has established in the North West, in the creation of quality family developments that people aspire to live within.”

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Marena Mondair has officially qualified as a solicitor at Liverpool and Chester-based law firm DTM Legal.

Marena spent time across the firm’s two offices within departments including insolvency, employment, corporate and dispute resolution. Sha identified she was a litigator following on from her time in these seats.

Jim Morris, partner at DTM Legal, praised Marena for her work and commitment and said: “Throughout her time at DTM Legal, the partners, and myself in particular, have been very impressed with her dedication to her studies, legal career and outside charity commitments.”

Marena is also the secretary of Merseyside Young Professionals and is currently organising the second Liverpool Sportswoman’s Lunch.

Jim added: “She has grown in knowledge and confidence and is a very popular member of the team. Clients praise her committed approach to work. We are delighted that she is qualifying after all her hard work.”

Marena said: “I have felt completely supported throughout my training contract and am so pleased to finally be qualified.”

The firm has a 100% success rate on supporting all trainees through to successful qualification.

Marena Mondair

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