People on the move: Liverpool City Region LEP; Hugh Jones Solicitors; Hugh Jones Solicitors; Derwent Group; Your Legal Friend

The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has announced the appointment of Asif Hamid, chief executive of the Contact Company, as its new chair to lead its work as the business-led economic partnership for the City Region.

Asif was formally chosen as chair by the LEP Board last week following an extensive and open recruitment process to replace the previous chair, Robert Hough, who stepped down last year.

Hamid said: “I am both honoured and delighted to have been chosen to take on this important role at a hugely exciting time for the city region.

“I am deeply committed to the inclusive growth of our city region and firmly believe that the LEP has a vital role to play in enabling business, the public sector and the whole community to work in partnership to realise the incredible potential of this place we live and work in.

“The LEP has, in the last five years, done a fantastic job in mobilising the businesses in our key growth sectors and the wider community to identify and realise the city region’s growth potential working alongside our partners in local and central government.

“As we enter a new phase of governance for the city region, the LEP is committed to supporting the Combined Authority and Metro Mayor in the successful implementation of the Devolution deal agreed with Government to accelerate our city region’s economic growth.”

Professor Nigel Weatherill, LJMU vice chancellor and LEP board member said: “We are delighted that Asif has accepted the position. He has the right skills, talents and commitment to enable the LEP to continue to deliver economic growth and prosperity for the Liverpool City Region and the wider Northern Powerhouse.”

The appointment of chair is for a minimum of three years.

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Salford-based law firm Hugh Jones Solicitors has said five new appointments reflect continued growth for the firm.

The appointments are court of protection administrators Hayley Gannon and Debbie Morell-Williams, IT manager Richard Carter, paralegal Rachel Suyo Carcia and HR assistant Deborah Moss.

Gannon comes to Hugh Jones from Slater and Gordon where she was a court of protection administrator. She began her legal career with Manchester law firm Pannone which she joined as a 16 year old in 2005.

Morrell-Williams completed her legal practice certificate (LPC) at Manchester Metropolitan University and before joining Hugh Jones she worked at Burton Copeland as a Researcher on the Hillsborough inquest. More recently she was a paralegal at Stanton Fisher in their clinical negligence department.

IT manager Richard Carter joins from DLA Piper where he held a similar role. Prior to that he had filled senior IT positions with United Utilities, Syngenta and Compaq. At Hugh Jones, Richard will be responsible for the smooth running of the firm’s IT infrastructure and services.

IT management was previously outsourced and this appointment say Hugh Jones illustrates the importance the firm is placing on IT systems and procedures as it moves forward.

Garcia completed her LPC at London Bloomsbury and has worked as a paralegal for both Slater and Gordon and Simpson Millar.

Moss joins from Regatta Limited where she worked as an HR Assistant. Moss has worked in Human Resources with a number of organisations providing HR advice and support across a range of issues which she will continue to do at Hugh Jones Solicitors.

Director Rachel Dobson said, “We are delighted to welcome all five to Hugh Jones Solicitors. The appointments are testimony to the huge strides the firm has made since being formed in March 2013.

“Business volumes continue to increase and it is vital we recruit high calibre staff like Richard, Rachel, Debbie Hayley and Deborah in order to provide our clients with the first class service levels they demand and deserve.”

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The developer behind the £100m Liverpool Shopping Park has appointed a general manager as the park enters the final construction stages of phase one.

The Derwent Group has appointed Russell Hall to create a market-leading on-site management team and to deliver the developer’s vision for a unique retail, leisure and dining experience.

The transformation of the former Edge Lane Retail Park into a new thriving retail and leisure destination began last year and it is expected to be the UK’s largest shopping park once complete, at 727,000sq ft.
Phase one, known as the Western Quarter, comprises 17 retail units and construction is on schedule for completion later this year.

Hall joins Liverpool Shopping Park from The Grafton Centre in Cambridge, where he managed the early stages of an £18.5m refurbishment.  He has previously worked with a number of leading retail and property businesses.

David Lyons, the group chief executive of The Derwent Group said: “With the launch of the first phase just seven months away it’s important that we start investing in the team and infrastructure we need to deliver the best possible experience for our retailers and shoppers.

“Russell is integral to delivering our vision and he has a wealth of experience to bring to bear on the role.”

Hall said: ‘Liverpool Shopping Park will have a transformative effect on this part of the city and bring a much needed and exciting leisure and retail experience to the market.

“This will be something quite different to the other schemes in the city with its vibrant mix of retailers, aspirational food and beverage brands and leisure operators as well as free parking for 1500 cars and great transport links. It’s an ambitious scheme of scale and I’m thrilled to be joining the team at such a critical time.”

Liverpool Shopping Park is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs.

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Merseyside-based firm Your Legal Friend has made its fourth senior appointment in nine months, with Kay Wilkes joining as group HR and operations director.

Wilkes has more than 18 years’ experience working for global companies including Kellogg’s, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Co-Operative and Halifax.

Her most recent role at law firm Slater & Gordon saw her leading on the organisational development, restructure and change programme, and managing the General law and Shared Services HR teams across the UK.

Wilkes’ role at Your Legal Friend will focus on further developing the litigation firm’s employee engagement initiatives, talent management, succession plans and working arrangements.

Originally setting out with a vision to become a barrister, Wilkes earned a Bachelors and a Masters in Law before embarking on a successful career in HR.

Her appointment follows three other senior hires, Claire Critchley as head of department for financial, property and professional  claims, Dominic Timmons as Head of Compliance and John King as Head of Marketing.

Colin Gibson, chief executive at Your Legal Friend, said: “Securing someone with Kay’s experience and track record will further strengthen HR practices in support of our accelerated growth strategy.

“Talent is central to our business so we’re delighted to welcome someone with Kay’s proactive approach, which has been honed over many years at global corporates.”

Wilkes, Group HR & Operations Director, added: “I’m proud to be joining a firm that’s making a name for itself across a number of specialist areas of litigation.

“The opportunity to apply my skills and experience in a highly-regarded and growing firm is something that I’m particularly excited about. This is a fast paced and demanding area of law and I’m looking forward to supporting the ongoing development of the team.”

Founded in 1983, Birkenhead-based Your Legal Friend employs 250 people and has supported around 200,000 clients over the last 30 years.