People: Kuits; Thornton Hall; Addleshaw Goddard & more

MANCHESTER commercial law firm Kuits has appointed Wendi Bussin as a specialist regulatory and business crime consultant in a strategic move that will enhance its litigation, tax investigation and contentious fraud service offerings.

Bussin will work as a consultant within the firm’s commercial litigation team and oversee business crime matters.
 
With more than 20 years of experience, she has acted in numerous large-scale fraud prosecutions and developed particular expertise in tax issue resolution and asset forfeiture.

She has defended both companies and individuals in numerous cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office and HMRC, with particular experience of very high cost cases (VHCCs), including several major missing trader frauds.
 
She joins Kuits as a consultant having previously been a founding partner of Garstangs Burrows Bussin.
 
Robert Levy, executive partner for Kuits and offshore tax specialist, said: “The firm already holds an excellent reputation for commercial litigation and tax investigation matters.

“Wendi’s wealth of experience means she is the perfect candidate to drive the firm forward in this area and we are delighted to welcome her to our team.”

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THORNTON Hall Hotel and Spa on a the Wirral has a new head chef –  Ben Mounsey – at its award-winning restaurant, The Lawns.
 
The hotel has also promoted Andrew Richards to the role of executive chef across the hotel’s entire dining offer in a reorganisation of its kitchen structure.  

Mounsey, 28, joins The Lawns from Fraiche in Oxton, where he served as sous chef for just over two years. Prior to his time at Fraiche, Ben worked at The Lawns for two years as a sous chef, before embarking on a yearlong culinary tour of the Far East.
 
Richards has been promoted having worked at Thornton Hall Hotel for five years, joining the team as a junior sous chef in 2011.
 
In his role he will oversee the running of the entirety of the hotel’s dining offer, including The Brasserie | Tapas & Grill, The Lawns and the hotel’s events and functions, including weddings and dinners.  
 
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ADDLESHAW Goddard has recruited Ben Edwards as a managing associate in its Manchester banking team.

Edwards was previously a senior associate at Eversheds in Manchester.
 
The AG team, which is ranked number one in both the Chambers and Legal 500 directories, transacted deals in excess of £3bn during 2015 acting for banks and other financial institutions as well as key North West corporate borrowers.

Following Edwards’ arrival, the team now boasts 34 banking lawyers based in Manchester.
 
Martin O’Shea, banking partner, said: “We are always looking for great people to recruit into our fast growing team, which is by far the largest finance practice in the North West. Ben is highly regarded and we are delighted that he has agreed to join us to further strengthen our banking practice.”
 
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INDEPENDENT business law firm Turner Parkinson has set out plans to grow its real estate business with the strategic hire of four senior lawyers into its Real Estate team in Manchester.

Lawyers Jonathan Kay and Quentin Duckworth have joined TP as partner and associate, whilst Andrew Rimmer and Emma Judge, a well known duo in the construction world, also join as partners.
 
TP Head of Real Estate, Paul Bibby, said: “We’ve grown the team organically over the last 3 or 4 years and built a high performing, solid platform from which to grow further as our market has continued to recover and develop.
 
“While we have been focused on organic growth, we have been looking for the right people who could help us kick on to the next level – so we are delighted to welcome Jonathan, Quentin, Andrew and Emma to Turner Parkinson.”