Legal Appointments: FBC Manby Bowdler; Browne Jacobson; Lodders

FBC Manby Bowdler doubles its trainees

FBC Manby Bowdler has taken on two new trainee solicitors. Andrew Ward and Lucy Speed have joined the firm, which has offices in Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth, on two year training contracts, doubling the number of trainees at the firm.

Ward starts his two year training contract in the firm’s Corporate Department, while Ms Speed will spend her first six months with the firm in its Commercial Property Department.

Born in Shrewsbury, Ward obtained a Law degree from the University of Leicester in 2007 and completed his Legal Practice Course at Birmingham College of Law in 2009.  He then spent some time at a large insurance broker before joining FBC Manby Bowdler.

Ms Speed studied at the Universities of York and Birmingham before completing her Legal Practice Course at BPP Birmingham.  She is a member of the Wolverhampton Junior Lawyers Division.

“As one of the largest law firms in the West Midlands, we are quite rightly committed to continuing to train the next generation of solicitors,” said training partner Craig Ridge.

“Andrew and Lucy have already impressed us and I look forward to seeing them progress in the next two years.”

Browne Jacobson poaches from DLA Piper to strengthen corporate team

THE Birmingham office of Browne Jacobson has grown its corporate team with the appointment of associate Mike Jackson.

He joins the firm’s 20-strong corporate finance team in the Midlands from DLA Piper, where he was a corporate associate.  Prior to that, he spent four years in the corporate team at Wragge & Co.

With more than six years experience of corporate transactions, Jackson specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and joint ventures. He has advised individuals, finance houses, PLCs and multi-national corporations in a range of sectors, including technology, food and drink and business services.

He also strengthens the team’s international capability, having acted on several large scale international deals with deal values exceeding £350m.

The appointment follows a successful 2011-12 for Browne Jacobson which saw the firm’s turnover rise by 17% to a record £41.3m and was been delivered without acquisition or merger.

Roger Birchall, Corporate Finance partner in Birmingham, said: “Mike’s arrival will strengthen the team’s private equity, venture capital and mergers and acquisition offering in the West Midlands.”

Lodders appoints new partner

Helen Rowett with head of private client Martin Green and senior partner David LodderSTRATFORD-upon-Avon based Lodders Solicitors has appointed Helen Rowett as a partner. Ms Rowett will be based at the firm’s Henley-in-Arden office where she will work in a consultancy role.

Formerly head of private client at Alsters  Kelley, she joins from Irwin Mitchell in Birmingham where she set up a private client team from scratch  and also handled   the management of  very substantial personal injury and medical negligence awards.

Her main area of interest is Court of Protection work, while she is also a member of the West Midlands branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Law Society’s Private Client section and Solicitors for the Elderly.

She said: “I have always worked in wills, trusts and probate, and this has involved statutory wills, powers of attorney and other elderly client work including court of protection applications.”
 
Lodders senior partner David Lodder said: “Helen is an experienced lawyer and very knowledgeable in her specialist area of expertise. The firm is well known for this area of work and her arrival will help support that growth.”

It has been led by Sophia Tayton, of the Stratford office, and Emma Vaqueiro, of Henley, both of whom work extensively with the elderly, catering for their legal needs.

Mrs Tayton, an associate with the firm, heads the Stratford care and capacity team, specialising in care funding, mental capacity, Court of Protection and powers of attorney. Mrs Vaqueiro, a solicitor, specialises in wills, the administration of estates, living wills, care for the elderly and Court of Protection work.

Helen Rowett is pictured with head of private client Martin Green and senior partner David Lodder.

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