People on the Move: Slater Heelis; 32West; Stephensons; Hill Dickinson; TLT

Jim Tully

One of Manchester’s most experienced and highly regarded lawyers has joined law firm Slater Heelis LLP as a partner.

Jim Tully joins Slater Heelis’s corporate team having spent five years as director of legal and general counsel retail at the Co-op.

He was a key member of the team which rescued and rebuilt the Co-op and acted on many of the Co-op’s major deals including the £1.6bn acquisition of Somerfield, the £620m sale of its pharmacy business and the £143m acquisition of Nisa from its 1190 members.

Jim has more than 25 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer, including 14 years as a partner at Addleshaw Goddard.

He was responsible for building a market-leading private equity practice, acting for nine out of the 10 private equity houses then in the North West market and led on hundreds of corporate transactions.

Simon Wallwork, head of corporate and commercial at Slater Heelis, said: “Jim’s appointment is a major coup, not only for the corporate team, but also for Slater Heelis as a firm.

“His vast experience fits perfectly with our partner-led approach and his commercial awareness and acumen will be a great asset to our corporate clients.”

Chris Bishop, Slater Heelis managing partner, added: “Jim’s decision to join Slater Heelis reflects the excellent reputation of our corporate team which is consistently ranked in the top 10 most active corporate teams in the North West by Experian.

“He will play a pivotal role in adding further strength to the team and to the client-focused services provided by Slater Heelis.”

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Content, PR and media consultancy business 32West has appointed former managing director of CN Group, and Newsquest Cumbria, Jonathan Lee as a director.

Jonathan joins former colleagues and fellow company directors James Higgins and Frank Stretton in the business, which has built up a strong client base in its first year.

Jonathan said: “After 30 years in the media industry I am looking forward to this new opportunity and to using my experience to help businesses and organisations to grow and to help further develop 32West which has enjoyed an excellent first year.”

As well as operating as a managing director, as a former editor and publisher of in-Cumbria business magazine, energy publications in association with Britain’s Energy Coast, and one of the founders and chairman of the Choose Cumbria partnership, Jonathan has worked closely with a range of businesses and organisations across diverse sectors for more than a decade.

Jonathan Lee

Born and bred on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, and having spent much of his career in the regional media in the North of England and in Scotland, Jonathan is looking forward to a new challenge, helping businesses and organisations throughout the UK.

32West has clients in London and Lancashire, as well as across Cumbria, operating in a range of sectors. They include the Holker Group, Fine & Country, Cartmell Shepherd, The Access Platform, the Abbey House Hotel and Gardens, Alertacall and Samlesbury Hall.

32West director James Higgins, who founded the business in May last year, said: “To have someone of Jonathan’s calibre, experience and drive as part of the 32West team is very exciting.

“He is passionate about business, passionate about Cumbria and is a fantastic addition to the team.

“Jonathan joining the team now gives us the opportunity to enter the next phase of our growth and we look forward to working with new businesses and organisations to help them tell their story in an engaging way.”

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Stephensons has appointed another solicitor as its award-winning family law team continues to expand.

Emma Roberts has been a specialist in family law for nine years, having qualified as a solicitor in 2012 before rising to be a compliance officer and director at her previous law firm.

She is a resolution specialist family lawyer, seeking to resolve areas of dispute in a constructive and non-confrontational way, and an accredited specialist in Children Act proceedings and complex financial remedy proceedings. Emma will join the family law team, based at the national law firm’s Manchester office.

She is the latest in a series of new appointments to Stephensons’ family law team, which at 47-strong is already the largest in the North West and is growing rapidly.

As well as many experienced and accredited solicitors, the Stephensons family law team has six Resolution specialists and six Children Panel specialists in total.

Emma Roberts, left, and Victoria Gethin

In 2016, Stephensons won National Family Team of the Year at the Solicitors Journal Awards and, in 2014, it was awarded National Family Law Firm of the Year by Jordans.

As well as other accolades the team has also won praise from The Legal 500 and the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession.

Head of the family department at Stephensons, Victoria Gethin, said: “Emma is a highly-talented and experienced lawyer who will make a great addition to the family team.

“Our policy of appointing high-calibre colleagues, like Emma, to the family law team has enabled us to offer the highest standards of service to our clients.

“The excellent reputation the team has developed ensure our services are in demand, which, in turn, is driving its continued growth.”

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Law firm Hill Dickinson has announced the promotion of five legal directors to partner with effect from May 1.

The promotions are split across the firm’s three core business groups, with three promotions in marine, trade and energy, one in health and one in business services.

The newly-promoted partners are superyachts lawyers Thomas Frei and Alex Teji in marine based in the London (West End) office, commodities and cargo lawyer Claire Messer in marine based in the London (City) office, health lawyer David Hill, who is also based in London (City), and private client lawyer Susan Sherry of the Liverpool office.

Susan Sherry advises UHNW private clients on all aspects of inheritance and capital gains tax issues and succession planning.

Susan Sherry

This includes the drafting of wills, powers of attorney and trusts. She advises settlors, beneficiaries and trustees on trust formation, trustees’ duties and trust dissolution.

Susan also deals with complex Court of Protection cases.

Speaking of the appointments, Hill Dickinson chief executive Peter Jackson said: “The announcement of partner promotions is always keenly awaited within Hill Dickinson, acknowledging the hard work and commitment of those who have reached this exciting next level in their careers.

“I am especially pleased to acknowledge that four of our five new partners completed their training contracts with the firm. Their success highlights the very positive opportunities we provide for home-grown talent to progress into partnership as part of our commitment to the growth of the firm.

“I wish them every success as they continue their career with us.”

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TLT has announced that Manchester-based commercial lawyer Kuldip Dhanoya is among four lawyers promoted to partner at the firm, effective from May 1.

Kuldip joined TLT as a legal director two years ago and has more than 17 years’ experience providing general commercial/contractual and EU procurement advice to public and private sector clients.

She works across a broad range of sectors including central and local government, education, health, housing, leisure, civic accommodation and outsourcing projects.

Graeme Orchison

Three associates in the Manchester office are also being promoted to legal director, including financial services lawyer Roisin McGlinn, construction lawyer Helen Daley, and planning and environment lawyer Debbie Reynolds.

Across the firm TLT is also making 11 associate to legal director promotions and 25 associate promotions.

Graeme Orchison, TLT’s location head in Manchester, said: “Congratulations to Kuldip and all of our newly-promoted lawyers; it really is a wonderful achievement and a credit to their collaborative cross-office and cross-team working to support clients.

“Improving diversity is a priority for the firm and so it is positive to see a 75% gender split for partner promotions and 82% for legal director.”

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