People on the move: Davis Blank Furniss; Liverpool BID Company; Kuits; Rotherham Taylor; Moore and Smalley; Weightmans; Bilfinger GVA

LAW firm Davis Blank Furniss has appointed Caroline Bilous as a senior solicitor in its family team.
 
She will be based at the firm’s headquarters in Manchester but will also handle cases out of its Glossop office.

Her new role will see her acting on behalf of clients seeking advice and assistance in relation to family matters including divorce, civil partnership dissolution, nullity, financial proceedings and children proceedings.

She will also be working closely with Anita Shepherd – head of the family team – on business development.

Bilous has joined Davis Blank Furniss from WTB Solicitors. She qualified in 2006 and has also worked at Beardsells.

Shepherd said: “Caroline’s arrival is great news for the firm. We have worked together in the past so I know she will be a great addition to the team. Her talent and enthusiasm are first class and I’m sure our clients will benefit from her experience.”

Bilous added; “Davis Blank Furniss is one of the region’s most respected law firms so I’m delighted to now be part of it. I’m now looking forward to help grow the Family team.”

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A FORMER Merseyside Police chief has taken a new role at Liverpool BID Company as part of a £3m drive to boost safety and the environment within the BID areas.  

In the newly created role of head of operations, Shaun Holland will be responsible for the BID ambassadors as well as the BID funded police officers who patrol the Commercial District and City Central BID areas tackling crime and anti-social behavior.

Further safety measures that have been put in place by the BID include an online crime reporting portal with up to the minute information about city centre security alerts, loss prevention and counter-terrorism training.

Over the course of his 30-year career in the police force, working in both London and Merseyside, Holland also worked with the Home Office to develop legislation around tackling mobile phone theft and alcohol related crimes.

During his last five years as the chief inspector of operations with Merseyside Police, Holland worked closely with local businesses and partner agencies, including Liverpool BID, to improve safety in the city centre.

In his new role, Holland ill also manage the BID street caretakers who were recently instated to provide street cleansing services to support the baseline provision from Liverpool City Council.

Environment and safety are strategic areas addressed in the five-year business plans for both BIDs. More than £1.2m will be spent to fund schemes to improve safety and cleanliness in the Commercial District, while £1.9m will be invested across the City Central BID area.

Holland said: “From my time working with Merseyside Police I worked closely with the team at the Liverpool BID and gathered a vast knowledge of the people and organisations in the city centre.

“Over the last 18 months, Liverpool BID Company has increased its efforts across both BIDs to ensure that Liverpool remains a clean and safe place to live, work and visit. As head of operations, I hope to be able to really drive this forward and help the BID deliver on the promises made in the business plans.”

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MANCHESTER commercial law firm Kuits has strengthened its litigation team with three new appointments.

Catherine Gritt joins the department from Squire Patton Boggs as an associate.

Gritt, who is a member of the Property Litigation Association, brings extensive experience in all areas of property litigation, including landlord and tenant law, as well as having considerable experience in commercial contractual disputes and professional negligence actions.

In addition, the department has appointed Phillip Warburton, also as an associate.

He is a commercial dispute resolution lawyer with experience of dealing with a wide range of commercial disputes. This encompasses all areas, including contractual and shareholder disputes, professional negligence, injunctive relief and commercial property disputes. Previous firms include O’Neill Patient Solicitors and Muldoon Britton Solicitors.

Siôn Fôn joins the team as a newly qualified solicitor, having completed his training contract with Kuits.

Andrew Weinberg, head of the litigation department, said: “The growth of the team reflects an increase in both caseload and fee income in recent months. This is particularly true for areas such as property litigation, where it’s been essential that we strengthen our team to support our growing client base.

“Our strategy has always been to hire the very best talent across the firm, and both Catherine and Phillip come to us with a proven track record of success.

“We are similarly delighted to have been able to welcome Siôn into the team following completion of his training contract, during which he demonstrated the traits we look for in our team members, such as commercial awareness, tenacity and a determination to go the extra mile for clients.”
 
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PRESTON-based Rotherham Taylor Chartered Accountants has welcomed payroll administrator, Anais Bidwell to its team.

Bidwell, who is qualified to the Association of Accounting Technicians Level 3, brings a variety of knowledge and experience to the firm from her studies and previous employments.

She said: “This is an exciting and dynamic firm and I’m relishing the opportunity to help clients with their payroll and bookkeeping needs.”

Rotherham Taylor Director, Rebecca Bradshaw, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Anais to the team. Her varied experience is a great asset and I’m sure our clients will value her input.”

Outside the office, her interests include yoga, reading and crochet.

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NORTH West accountancy firm Moore and Smalley has recruited 11 new trainees across its regional offices.

The 2016 intake represents a significant investment in the future of the top 50 UK accountancy practice, which last year announced record financial results and opened new regional hubs in Manchester and Liverpool.

The Preston-headquartered firm already has established offices in Blackpool, Lancaster, Kendal, Southport and Nottingham and has around 280 staff.

Graham Gordon, managing partner of Moore and Smalley, said: “We want to be recognised as one of the leading business advisory firms in the UK. We’ll do this by continuing to invest in our people at all levels of the organisation.

“We’ve been doing lots of work behind the scenes to ensure we can attract the best financial talent, particularly at entry level to the profession. Our new trainees all bring new thinking and qualities to Moore and Smalley.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome them to the firm. We look forward to seeing them flourish with us.”  
 
The firm’s new AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) trainees are Samantha Faulkner, Daniel Scott, Victoria Robertshaw, Matthew Hodgson, Joshua Sadler, Luke Baldwin and Elliott Jones.

Meanwhile, it’s new ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) trainees are Hope Deary, Catherine John, and Ellie Farthing. Leon Bhatt has also joined the firm as a payroll trainee.
 
Jones, Deary, John and Farthing will join the firm’s Preston office. Scott and Robertshaw join the team in Kendal. Faulkner, Baldwin and Bhatt will work in the Lancaster office, while Hodgson and Sadler will be based at the Blackpool and Nottingham offices respectively.

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NATIONAL top 45 law firm Weightmans has appointed partner James Rowley to the healthcare team in Manchester.

Rowley, former partner at Ryan Solicitors, has more than 14 years’ experience in healthcare regulatory work.

His extensive practice portfolio has included the full range of NHS and GMC fitness to practise procedures, proceedings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, inquests, inquiries, judicial review, injunction and criminal procedures.
 
Rowley’s appointment is another move towards the development of a North West regulatory healthcare hub, with the creation of a bespoke, modern and refreshing package, tailored around individual client needs.

Partner and head of healthcare Richard Jolly said: “James’ arrival is a great boost to the healthcare team. With his experience and market knowledge, he will be central to the development of a North West regulatory healthcare hub, offering a high quality, full service product which will ensure a modern and efficient service in an increasingly competitive and progressive market. We are delighted to welcome him to the firm.”

Rowley said: “The healthcare sector is one of many experiencing the most complex transformation in generations. I am delighted to be joining a firm at the forefront of addressing these challenges, and look forward to guiding and supporting clients through this exciting period of change and beyond.”

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REAL estate advisory firm Bilfinger GVA has appointed Chris Cheap as its new Manchester office head, effective as of January 1.

Cheap replaces current head Mark Rawstron who retires at the end of the year.
 
Gerry Hughes, chief executive at Bilfinger GVA, said: “Chris is one of the most respected office agents in the city and brings a wealth of experience. Bilfinger GVA’s market position as the UK’s largest and most diverse real estate advisory firm outside of the capital means Manchester continues to be an essential part of our future growth. I very much look forward to working closely with Chris to help realise our ultimate ambitions.”

The company’s Manchester office is its third largest (after its London HQ and Birmingham office) both in terms of its size (185 employees) and the breath of its client service capabilities.

Chris Cheap, senior director and current head of office agency at Bilfinger GVA in Manchester, said: “This is a hugely exciting time to be leading the Manchester office. Our current proposition presents a really fantastic opportunity to grow.

The combination of investment from our new owners EQT and our growing regional, national and European platform will help us strengthen and expand our capabilities here in the North West.”

Rawstron said: “I joined this brilliant company when it was called Grimley & Son more than 30 years ago. In that time, I’ve seen staff numbers across the North West grow from seven to 185 people.

“This city and region is unique, its political and civic infrastructure and its public- private sector approach to business and regeneration has been an exemplar.

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