Appointments: Stephensons grows family law team; Retirement from Blackhurst Budd; Harrison Drury expands private client

MANCHESTER law firm Stephensons Solicitors has recruited a new solicitor to its family law team.

Gillian Davies joins from city law firm Lyons Wilson. She joins new solicitors Dianne Skidmore and Jackie Price, who have also been recruited in recent months as the firm expands.

Mike Devlin, managing partner of family at Stephensons, said: “Gillian’s arrival enables us to further expand our private paying family practice in Manchester and indeed the region. She has built up a considerable experience in Family law.

“We’ve now invested in three new family solicitors in a very short space of time, confirming our commitment to the area and enabling us to become one of the largest firms in the city offering a broad such a vast spectrum of Family legal services.”

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AUDREY Rawlins is retiring from Blackpool legal firm Blackhurst Budd after 32 years working as a probate solicitor for the firm.

She will be replaced by colleague Anne Swarbrick, who will join the firm’s seven strong probate team.

Anne Swarbrick said: “Audrey’s shoes will be difficult to fill but I have been working closely with her over the last few months and I’m relishing the challenge of making my own mark on the department.”

Blackhurst Budd, based in the centre of Blackpool, comprises 64 staff and 13 partners.

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LANCASHIRE-based law firm Harrison Drury has expanded its private client department after appointing a new specialist solicitor.

Rachel Conroy has joined the firm’s Fleet Street offices in Preston, where she will join the wills, probate and trusts team. She will also advise clients at Harrison Drury’s Blackburn and Garstang offices.

The 26-year-old will specialise in complex trusts, wills, inheritance tax planning and estate management for the firm’s wide range of clients, including its high net worth and commercial clients.

She joins from Burnley-based law firm Smith Sutcliffe, where she trained, qualified and spent more than four years with its wills, probate and trusts team.

John Chesworth, Harrison Drury’s managing partner, said: “Rachel brings a wealth of experience in private client work and her appointment will expand our specialist offering to clients and maintain our high quality service. I’m sure she will prove to be a great asset for the firm and, more importantly, our clients.”