Legal Appointments: Wright Hassall; Shoosmiths; BCL Legal

Wright Hassall solicitor becomes Warwickshire Law Society’s youngest VP

WARWICKSHIRE Law Society has appointed Liz Talbot, of Bonell & Co, as its new president. Rachel Gwynne, of Wright Hassall, is the new vice-president and one of the youngest VPs in the society’s history.

Ms Gwynne, 34, first became involved with the society, which has close to 500 members, when she was invited to become deputy vice-president last year.

This came after her work reviving and chairing the Young Lawyers Group following her qualification in January 2006.

The society does not hold complete records containing the ages of all its previous personnel but those they do have, which date back to 1915 show Ms Gwynne to be the youngest to hold the position of vice-president.

Her primary responsibility in post will be to support the new president in representing the society’s members on a regional and national basis and making sure their views are heard.

She said: “This is a real honour. I am delighted to have made the step-up to vice-president of the Warwickshire Law Society. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the organisation.”

Shoosmiths strengthens real estate team

SHOOSMITHS has strengthened its Birmingham-based real estate team with a new appointment.

Alex Jones, who has a career spanning 21 years, has joined the firm from Gateley. He has in-depth knowledge of the real estate sector covering commercial and residential development, investment, secured lending, property management, and also all aspects of real estate sales and lettings.  

His client base has included major development companies, pension funds, local authorities, corporate occupiers, overseas investors and major private landowners.

Jones has acted for prominent West Midlands developers on their retail and leisure developments, and has advised AMEC Developments on a £350m mixed-use scheme in Reading.

He acted for the vendor in the £240m disposal of the investment interest in London’s European Bank building, and represented Standard Life on its acquisition of £100m of mortgage debenture stock in the Manchester Ship Canal Company.

He also advised Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust in connection with the £200m development of a new hospital in Worcester, and represented Coventry City Council on the development of the Ricoh Arena.

Partner and national head of real estate Simon Boss said: “Alex is a significant addition to an already impressive Shoosmiths real estate line-up. His joining will undoubtedly help us forge new relationships, particularly in the West Midlands, which in turn contributes to a rapidly growing national reputation for top quality real estate advice.”

London move for recruiter BCL Legal

The London team at BCL Legal. Front, from left: Craig Wilson, Raj Sidhu  and Mark Levine. Back, from left: Matthew Porter, James Batt and James Brewster BIRMINGHAM-based legal recruiter BCL Legal has expanded by opening a new office in London.

The firm, which has been in existence for 10 years, said the move was in response to growing demand from London and the South East both for private practice and in-house personnel.

The initial focus for the office will be around interim/ locum and document review roles. The aim for the next 12 to 18 months is to then rapidly grow and develop a full private practice team that will place candidates at all levels and across all disciplines as well as to grow the in-house offering.

The London office is being headed up by BCL managing director James Batt, who will split his time between the capital and the firm’s other regional operations in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol and Reading.

Pictured are, front, from left: Craig Wilson, Raj Sidhu  and Mark Levine. Back, from left: Matthew Porter, James Batt and James Brewster.

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