Legal news: JMW; Gateley, Aaron & Partners & more

MANCHESTER firm JMW is representing former Sunderland FC national and international marketing director Michael Farnon in his High Court civil claim against the Premier League club.

The case is being heard in Liverpool. Farnon from Manchester, was sacked from his £190,000 a year job for gross misconduct in May 2013.

He claims allegations against him were “trumped up” and is claiming a seven figure sum. The case is proceeding.  JMW employment partner Ian Tranter is representing Farnan.

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NEWLY-listed Gateley has continued with its national expansion by announcing the opening of an office in Reading.

The office will be led by one of the area’s best known lawyers, Christopher Avery, who joins Gateley from local law firm, Pitmans where he was managing partner for 25 years.
 
The opening of a Reading office will expand Gateley’s national network of offices to seven, as well as an operation in Dubai, and the firm said the approach fitted with its strategy of becoming a leading national law firm while still retaining a strong regional emphasis. 
 
Michael Ward, Gateley’s CEO said:  “Christopher has been appointed to help us develop a full-service commercial practice in the highly strategic Thames Valley/M4 corridor which is a large and growing centre for legal services.  He is well known in the Thames Valley and has the right combination of experience and entrepreneurial spirit to help us deliver our objectives.
 
“We indicated at the time of IPO that whilst we had a fully invested UK network of offices we would consider opportunities in one or two other geographical locations if the right opportunity presented itself and Reading is such an opportunity.”

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KENNEDYS has bolstered its travel practice with the appointment of Andrew Morton as a senior associate in its Manchester office.
 
Previously head of head of travel law at Pannone and Minster Law,  Morton will lead Kennedys’ travel business in the north. He will work closely with Claire Mulligan and Justin Collins, and their 20-strong travel and tourism team based in London, who joined from Plexus in March this year.
 
With 25 years’ experience in personal injury and insurance litigation, Andrew is recognised as a leader in travel litigation. He set up and ran Pannone’s prominent Travel Team for more than a decade.
 
Claire Mulligan, head of Kennedys’ travel practice, says: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to the team. With Andrew and Kennedys there were immediate synergies in terms of our clients and market focus. His experience will be of immense benefit to the firm and our clients, and I’m looking forward to working with him to further grow the practice in the north and across the UK.”

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PRESTON-based Harrison Drury has been chosen to provide legal support for veteran crooner Rod Stewart’s recently announced 2016 UK tour.

The firm has advised award-winning concert promoters and event managers, Cuffe and Taylor, on its legal agreements with individual venues, as well as its contractual agreement with the singer.

David Edwards, associate solicitor at Harrison Drury, said: “Cuffe and Taylor has continued to secure a number of deals to promote the performances of some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry.

“It’s great to be providing specialist legal advice to help Cuffe and Taylor cement its relationship with Rod Stewart, as well as helping the firm clinch a new exciting deal which will help stage big name acts at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.”

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AARON & Partners has appointed Claire Strawson as marketing and business development director.

Working across the firm’s Chester, Manchester and Shrewsbury offices, she will oversee  strategy and planning, corporate and internal communications, digital and social marketing, partnerships, branding, events and sponsorship.

She has more than 15 years’ experience across the legal, financial services and technology sectors and has recently relocated to the North West having been based in the South East for a number of years.

Andy Duxbury Aaron & Partners’ chief executive, said: “Claire brings a wealth of insight to this role. She is really passionate about adding value and providing the best experience for Aaron & Partners’ clients and we are delighted to welcome her in this new senior level role, created to drive our ambitious plans for growth in a fast-evolving market place.”

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EXPANDING commercial firm Pannone Corporate has appointed digital agency magneticNorth as its branding partner.

magneticNorth was appointed following a competitive tender exercise and will be taking a ‘digital first’ approach to developing the company’s brand and communications.

Paul Jonson, managing partner at Pannone Corporate said: “We were extremely impressed with the team at magneticNorth. We felt they were a perfect fit with our culture and ethos and had a thorough understanding of our ambitions.”

Lou Cordwell, chief executive of magneticNorth added: “We’ll be collaborating with the Pannone Corporate team to implement a ‘digital first’ approach to its brand that recognises the dominance of digital channels and communications today, and puts digital media and digital thinking at the heart of their communications process.”