People on the Move: Ask Real Estate; Farleys Solicitors; Iesis; Russell & Russell Solicitors; OBI

From left: Sarah Woodmansey, Jamie Hills, Harry Rodick

Ask Real Estate has appointed Sarah Woodmansey as development executive.

Sarah joins from Keir Group where she specialised in development management on a number of high-profile schemes across the North.

As part of Ask’s development team Sarah will work on the current portfolio supporting the delivery of Viadux in Manchester city centre and Gateshead Quays on Tyneside.

As the company’s expansion plans continue she will also be responsible for future pipeline schemes.

In a further move Jamie Hills has been promoted to development director.

Jamie, who has been a core member of the Ask Real Estate team since 2011, leads on many of the company’s flagship schemes including Embankment and No8 First Street which have attracted major occupiers including WSP, Odeon, Gazprom and Swinton Insurance to Manchester.

Also supporting the team this year is graduate placement Harry Rodick who has recently completed his final year studies at The University of Sheffield.

Managing director John Hughes said: “Sarah joins us at a very exciting time for the company as we continue to explore opportunities in cities across the North as well as driving forward with the delivery of our current live projects.

“She has gained good experience since graduating and will be a key member of the team as we move forward with our future plans.”

He added: “We’re also really pleased to announce Jamie’s promotion to development director.

“Jamie is a valued and well-respected member of the team and has been instrumental in enabling us to deliver some of the city’s landmark commercial developments over recent years.”

A graduate of the University of Sheffield and a qualified member of the RICS, Sarah was last year appointed as a member of the external advisory board of the Geography Department at the University of Sheffield, where she advises on the internal organisation of the department and contributes to formulating the strategy on teaching and research.

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Regional law firm Farleys Solicitors has appointed insolvency expert Mark Hague to its expanding commercial team, as the firm continues its recruitment drive to support ambitious growth plans.

Mark joins the firm’s Preston offices as an associate from Turner Parkinson, having spent more than five years specialising in business recovery and insolvency.

A ‘recommended lawyer’ by the Legal 500, Mark handles a broad range of matters across both personal and corporate insolvency and he has significant experience in bringing and defending heavyweight litigation arising out of administrations, liquidations and bankruptcies.

He also advises individuals on insolvency issues, including director’s duties, claims brought by insolvency office holders, proceedings brought under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and proceedings brought by HMRC for unpaid tax.

Mark Hague

Mark said: “The firm and its commercial team have an excellent reputation in the region, working with some fantastic clients and I’m looking forward to working closely with the team as we continue to build on this further.”

Partner Ian Liddle added: “Mark has a wealth of experience and a great track record for delivering first class advice to clients and intermediaries, and we are delighted to welcome him to Farleys.

“I have no doubt that Mark will be a great asset to our commercial team and look forward to him developing our restructuring and insolvency department in the region.”

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Multi-disciplinary property consultancy and engineering firm Iesis Group has opened its Northern office in Manchester at 6 Commercial Street in Castlefield which is to be led by newly-recruited director, Robert Dalton.

The appointment comes following a successful period of growth for the company and a number of years working in the North West.

Iesis Group has advised on key projects in the region including the new Didsbury facility for national client Spire Healthcare, and is working with leading Manchester-based property development and investment business Nikal and its luxury homebuilding arm, Hillcrest Homes, on various high profile schemes.

Iesis was established in 2007 in Bristol and also has an office in London.

The North of England, and in particular Manchester and the North West, represents the next phase of growth for the company which is working on projects throughout the UK.

Robert Dalton

The company has cross-sector expertise encompassing residential, student accommodation, hotel, commercial, education, healthcare and infrastructure projects, with a strong track record in urban regeneration.

The Manchester office will be focused on the delivery of director-level project and cost management and civil and structural engineering services across the North.

Robert joins from Turner & Townsend where he served as a director, supporting the business’s North West operations across the infrastructure sector including rail, highways, and aviation.

He brings 34 years’ experience as quantity surveyor and contract consultant.

Prior to joining Turner & Townsend, Robert was head of commercial for Thales GTS, where he helped deliver major projects such as the £90m Manchester Metrolink Expansion Programme.

Earlier in his career, Robert worked for organisations such as Blake Newport Associates, Driver Group, Hill International Inc and Vinci Construction UK, all based in the North West.

Robert said: “I’m pleased to be joining a first-class team and look forward to further building upon the company’s work in Manchester and strengthening our presence in the North of England by offering a high-quality and personal consultancy service to our property and engineering clients, including project and cost management and monitoring surveying services.”

Iestyn Lewis, chief executive of Iesis Group, said: “With more than 30 years in the industry Robert has fantastic experience and we’re excited to have him as part of the Iesis team to spearhead our growth in Manchester.

“Our portfolio of projects speaks for itself across the UK and Robert will have the support of colleagues both in Bristol and London whilst he organically grows the office there.

“Manchester is a great city with an active property and engineering market and establishing a Northern presence is the next logical step for Iesis.”

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Bolton based law firm, Russell & Russell Solicitors has made three new additions to its leadership team.

Zoe Harryman

Zoe Harryman, Jill Hughes, and Richard Querelle have all accepted equity partnerships in the firm.

The three Solicitors, who possess 50 years’ qualified experience between them, work in the firm’s ever-expanding property department.

Zoe has been with Russell & Russell since 2000, having completed her training contract with the firm.

Jill Hughes

She was admitted as a solicitor in 2003 and undertakes all types of residential property transactions with a reputation for delivering an excellent service to her clients.

Jill joined the firm in 2006 and undertakes specialist buy-to-let transactions for both lender and borrower clients, including companies.

Richard is resident at the firm’s offices in Chester which he joined in 2015, quickly making his talents known for dealing with high value and complex residential sales throughout England and Wales.

Head of property at Russell & Russell, Stephen Crompton, said: “Zoe, Jill and Richard have shown a fantastic commitment to the firm and they work tirelessly on behalf of our clients.

Richard Querelle

“They have gained considerable experience in their field of law as well as being strategic in their approach to the future of the business.

“At the outset of their careers they decided to specialise in property and they are now highly-regarded experts in that area of law.

“I am delighted that they have decided to invest in Russell & Russell and welcome them into our equity partnership. I am sure they will continue to contribute to the ongoing growth and successes of the firm as we move forward as an Alternative Business Structure.”

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Real estate advisory firm OBI has appointed Elizabeth Bisby as its chief operating officer and company secretary.

The team at OBI now totals 30.

Elizabeth joins OBI from Sky Betting and Gaming in Leeds, where she spent more than three-and-a-half years working on numerous finance and HR projects, including the divestment of the business from Sky plc in 2015 and completion of the $4.7bn acquisition of the business by The Stars Group Inc in April 2018.

Her role at OBI will be to work closely with co-founders Will Lewis and Dominic Horridge and the rest of the growing team, to help steer the business as the company, which was established in 2010, embarks on the next phase of its growth.

Elizabeth said: “I am delighted to be joining OBI at such an exciting time for the business. OBI has already established itself as the market leader in Manchester because of their unique whole service offering – ‘The OBI Difference.’

Elizabeth Bisby

“Expanding on that, the company has now launched Studio OBI, a creative agency which will specialise in concept, branding, design and videography.

“Studio OBI will harness the network already established at OBI to be able to distribute their content to influential business leaders.”

Last year OBI experienced its most successful year to date, securing the largest letting in Manchester city centre in 16 years with the Booking.com acquisition of the 225,000 sq ft new global headquarters – Manchester Goods Yard, in the new St John’s Quarter where OBI has been appointed as workplace consultants, interior designers and the fit-out will be delivered by the OBI Building
Consultancy Team.

The office team at OBI accounted for 42% of the total space transacted in the city centre in 2018.

Will Lewis said: “Liz is an important addition to our business and we are delighted to welcome her to the team. Liz brings a wealth of experience and a skillset we’ve been missing as the business has expanded.

“Her appointment will have a hugely positive impact on both our existing team and our clients, and she provides the required skillset to continue the firm’s success.”

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