IAAP appointment for David Lodder

LODDERS’ partner David Lodder has been appointed to the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel where he will play a role in deciding appeals on Rural Payments Agency.

Lodder, the firm’s head of the agriculture department, specialises in advising farming businesses and landowners, and also owns a 150-acre pasture farm in Warwickshire.

He is one of only three practicing lawyers to join the panel out of the 36 new recruits that join the IAAP’s 14 existing members. The panel appointment is for a three-year period effective immediately until September 2017.

Lodder is also a former chairman of the Warwickshire branch of the Game & Wildlife Trust and has been Under Sheriff of Warwickshire since 2004.

Commenting on the appointment, he said: “CAP rules are changing from January 2015, and a rise in the number of appeals is predicted in the wake of these. The panel has been bolstered to assist with hearing these appeals and supporting the RPA and Defra with their decisions.

“Being appointed to the panel presents me with a great opportunity to get under the skin of the nitty gritty issues of the farming industry. Being at the coal face of the agricultural schemes and individual issues will further enhance the firm’s empathy and understanding when advising our landowner and agricultural business clients.”

Lodders Solicitors has offices in Stratford upon Avon, Henley in Arden and Cheltenham,
 

Matrimonial Services appointment for Thomas Horton

THOMAS Horton Solicitors has announced the appointment of Stephen Outhwaite as Head of Matrimonial Services.

Outhwaite brings a wealth of experience to the role and is keen to further expand the firm’s family and childcare divisions.

Having qualified, he decided to spend some time working in the American legal system before returning to England, where he has spent the last 10 years in practices across the West Midlands, focusing on family and criminal disciplines.

He is a panel member of the Law Society Accreditation Scheme for specialists in Family Law and also a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children.

“This is a fantastic opportunity and I’m delighted to be joining Thomas Horton at such an exciting time,” he said.

Thomas Horton operates from offices in Bromsgrove, Worcester, Barnt Green and Redditch.

Strong residential property sector prompts expansion for Lanyon Bowdler

A BOOM in the residential property market has prompted expansion by Shropshire and Herefordshire law firm Lanyon Bowdler.

The legal practice now has more lawyers specialising in residential property than ever before, with 19 people spread across five offices. Shrewsbury and Hereford have seen the biggest increases in their local teams.

New faces include Joanne Thomas, who has joined the Shrewsbury team, bringing the total number of staff there to five. Loretta Ashton and Gosia Bronisz-Handley have created a four-strong team at Hereford.

Partner David Foden, head of the residential property team since 2010, said: “During what can be a stressful process, I am pleased we are able to offer people who are buying and selling homes the support of a strong team with many years’ experience.

“The property market is still seeing encouraging growth, and there has been an increase in the number of people buying and selling homes in Shropshire and Herefordshire over the past two or three years.

“Having different teams based in the major towns across the counties helps us provide a really personal service as our staff are more accessible to our clients.”

Lanyon Bowdler also has residential property teams based in Oswestry, Ludlow and Telford.