People: Hillyer McKeown; Peel Gas & Oil; De Novo Advisory & more

NORTH West law firm Hillyer McKeown has recruited a top corporate/commercial lawyer as part of its continued expansion.

The firm has hired Anne Scheland as an associate to work closely with a number of its business clients.

She will work across the company’s offices in Chester, Liverpool, Wirral and Deeside.

Scheland has previously worked for other leading regional law firms including Pinsent Masons as well as in in-house roles with the likes of Speedy Hire and Cheshire East Council.

In addition to her corporate legal experience, Anne is also a qualified Company Secretary with a strong understanding of Board governance.
 
Scheland said: “I was attracted to Hillyer McKeown because they can offer the quality of work I am used to. I have experience working with a range of businesses including PLCs, family businesses and high-growth start-ups.”
 
Steve Harvey, managing partner at Hillyer McKeown, said: “Anne is extremely commercially minded and has already hit the ground running advising a number of our clients.”

 In addition to her work in the UK, Scheland is also a qualified solicitor in Ireland and the Turks & Caicos Islands where she worked for two years.

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PEEL Gas & Oil has expanded its team in Manchester by appointing industry expert Tony Smith as commercial strategy manager.

Joining from SLR – where he led development of business strategy, including environmental services, relating to shale gas – Smith brings more than 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector to the team.
   
He joined BP Research after gaining his PhD in oil degradation, kick-starting an accomplished career that would see him negotiate landmark gas contracts for ExxonMobil.

Smith will strengthen Peel Gas & Oil’s offer as an essential development partner to shale gas licence holders, helping to speed up delivery and de-risk investment via the company’s skills and assets in land, infrastructure and utilities.

He said: “I’m extremely proud to be starting the next chapter of my career with Peel Gas & Oil.
 
“As part of one of the UK’s leading development enterprises, the company is uniquely placed to help speed up delivery of the UK’s shale gas market and unlock the supply chain benefits that will come with it.”

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BOUTIQUE advisory firm De Novo Advisory has appointed Tracey Pye to expand the Midlands-based company into the North West.

Prior to joining De Novo, Pye was a Partner at accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO.

She spent 16 years in BDO’s Business Restructuring team building a wealth of knowledge and experience whilst leading a number of notable assignments.
 
Pye specialises in supporting businesses in need of strong working capital and organisational change management and will be based in the office in King Street, Manchester.

Jo Wright, De Novo founder said: “Given the early success we have experienced in the Midlands over the last 12 months, Tracey’s appointment highlights our commitment to creating long-term growth for our regions’ businesses.”

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CHRIS Reece has qualified as a solicitor at the firm he first did work experience as a schoolboy.

Reece, 26 did his first stint of work experience at Chafes in 2004, when studying for his GCSEs at Stockport School.

He then returned for another placement during his A-Level studies at Aquinas College, also in Stockport.

After gaining a Law degree from The University of Sheffield, he joined Chafes as a paralegal in the debt recovery department.

He recently qualified as a solicitor after completing a training contract in the firm’s tax, trusts and estates department.

Robert Brindley, partner at Chafes Solicitors, said: “Chris is a great addition to our team.  He has an amenable and professional demeanour beyond his years and is well liked and respected by all of his clients.  His qualification is well deserved and I am confident he will have a long and successful legal career.” 

Chafes Solicitors has offices in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and New Mills.

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TAX advisory firm OneE Group has recruited Gary Cryer to its tax disputes and investigations division as a senior tax consultant.

Cryer is an ex-Inspector of Taxes and joins OneE Group from Baker Tilly. 

He brings more than 40 years’ of tax investigations experience to the company.  Cryer’s role will be to help accountants and their clients solve their tax issues as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Gary Rowson, director of OneE Group, said: “When it comes to handling complex tax disputes, technical knowledge of the legislation and settlement techniques need to be propped up by compassion and the ability to help clients through what is an extremely traumatic experience.

“Having worked with Gary previously, I know that he combines these skills with an unrivalled level of experience that clients find practical, professional and reassuring. Gary will be a great asset to OneE Group and a fantastic mentor for the rest of the team.”