People on the Move: Forbes Solicitors; Simpson Millar; Wirral Chamber; David Harrison Real Estate; OBI

Jennifer, far right, with some of her team

Legal firm Forbes Solicitors has boosted the expertise and experience in its housing and regeneration (property) team with a series of key appointments.

The team, led by recently promoted partner Jennifer Hankinson, has grown by 50% in the past year, with new appointments ranging from associates, solicitors and paralegals to trainee paralegals and admin support staff.

The housing and regeneration (property) team, based in Preston, works with housing providers nationally, providing a wide range of advice and legal services.

Recent contract wins include Together Housing Group, Progress Housing Group, ACIS Group, One Manchester and First Choice Homes Oldham.

It is rated Tier 1 for Social Housing by Legal 500 and Tier 2 for Social Housing by Chambers & Partners and Jennifer is a ‘recommended lawyer’ in the Legal 500.

Jennifer Hankinson said: “The changes in the team have been quite significant over the last 12 months and it is continually growing to meet demand within the sector.

“Our areas of work have grown and we have seen an increase in bulk transaction work in the last couple of years due to increased audits and rationalisation of stock within our client group.

“We are also assisting our education sector team on property transactions using our team members’ existing knowledge and experience of that sector.

“The withdrawal of the funding cap for local authorities has seen an increase in local authority development transactions for affordable housing and regeneration.”

Jennifer has a specialist background in development but is now focusing on both sides of the team (home ownership and development).

She said: “We are working collaboratively with our clients and many have commented that the new approach is proving successful in terms of providing practical advice and service.”

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National law firm Simpson Millar has announced the appointment of Neil Turnbull as head of strategic partnerships.

With more than 25-years’ experience in the legal industry, he has been tasked with building on, and, strengthening the firm’s relationships with key partners, with a focus on trade unions, charities, and wider non-government organisations.

The latest in a string of senior hires for the business – which last year announced that it was embarking on a five-year, £50m growth strategy, which includes significant investment in its people, technology and marketing – Neil joins the firm with immediate effect from Slater and Gordon Lawyers where he headed up similar services on a national level.

Neil Turnbull

Simpson Millar also recently underwent a rebrand to position the firm as ‘The Open Lawyers’ and is establishing itself at the forefront of the changing legal services market, with a clear and straightforward aim: to create a simpler way to tackle challenges and to ‘open’ up the law and make it easier for people to get legal help and support when they need it.

Greg Cox, Simpson Millar managing partner and chief executive, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Neil to join the team in this new position.

“Coming in with a proven ability for developing strong strategic partnerships, his appointment comes as part of our new ‘open’ proposition and is a clear demonstration of our commitment to growing and further fostering our relationships with key partners within the trade union, charity, and NGO sectors.

“We are committed to working alongside our partners to constantly improve the way we currently provide support and help to their members as well as developing new services which will not only help them but also add value to their membership.”

Neil said: “I am excited to be taking on this national role at Simpson Millar and to spearhead the firm’s approach to building strong partnerships as it continues to grow and expand.

“Simpson Millar already has a strong relationship with many trade unions and a number of fantastic charities, and I look forward to continuing to drive these partnerships forward as well as developing new partnerships – all with the aim of providing the very best service to their members.”

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Ben Russell, chief executive at Russell Taylor Holdings, has been appointed to the board of Wirral Chamber of Commerce.

One of the region’s leading entrepreneurs, Ben has driven the Wirral-based recruitment business, originally set up as a father and son operation, to one with a multimillion-pound turnover and currently employing more than 400 staff.

Earlier this year Russell Taylor Holdings, which covers employment sectors in engineering, construction, industrial, commercial, transport, logistics and distribution, was named as the UK’s fastest growing privately-owned recruitment company.

However, Ben attributes the outstanding success in driving this growth to two vital factors – the business’ family values and workplace culture.

Ben Russell

He said: “The past couple of years have undoubtedly been the most challenging in our history, yet we have constantly stuck to our ideals centred on everything we believe in as a family-run business with our roots firmly on Wirral.”

Now, looking forward to the new challenging role as a director of Wirral Chamber of Commerce, he added: “The Wirral business community has an amazing opportunity to maximise opportunities for growth through collaboration and unity among its members.

“I am delighted to join the chamber board and become part of a team that’s passionate about strengthening the local economy and helping to put our businesses on a larger global platform.”

A patron member of Wirral Chamber, Ben is also a founder patron of The Hive Youth Zone in Birkenhead, working in close contact with the organisation to support the coaching and mentoring of young people to help them into employment.

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Manchester-based Davies Harrison Real Estate has expanded its industrial agency team by appointing Sam Rodgers.

Sam Rodgers

Sam is a real estate graduate from Reading University and has worked for a number of regional property companies including Quorum Estates, Jones Lang LaSalle and Savills.

He has recently relocated back to England having worked in the construction industry in Australia.

Rick Davies, partner at Davies Harrison Real Estate, said: “We are continuing to look to grow the business in what is proving to be an exciting market and are pleased to welcome Sam to the team.”

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Real estate consultancy OBI has appointed Graham Thorpe to its building consultancy team.

Graham has previously worked at Paragon and Savills and will be servicing OBI’s clients on some of Manchester’s biggest developments.

This includes The ABC Buildings and Bonded Warehouse for Allied London, 79 Mosley Street for BBRE and Manchester Goods Yard – the commercial hub of St John’s Enterprise City – for Booking.com.

The appointment brings OBI’s headcount to 31 people.

OBI, founded in 2010 by Will Lewis and Dominic Horridge, last year accounted for 42% of the total office space transacted in the city centre.

Following the record year and hire of Graham, Dominic said: “We’re delighted to have Graham join the team.

Graham Thorpe

“He’s got the skills and experience which we know will be a great addition to both the business and our clients.

“He also shares OBI’s values of exceptional client service, hard work and innovation.”

OBI’s building consultancy team now boasts seven people. The team’s current work includes the extension of St James’s Tower on Charlotte Street and building refurbishment at Hyphen, 75 Mosley Street, which are both located in Manchester city centre.

As well as working on occupier fit-out projects in the Grade II-listed Express Building on Great Ancoats Street and 40-46 Princess Street, OBI’s building consultancy team is also undertaking several high-profile occupier dilapidations.

Graham Thorpe said he was delighted to have joined OBI: “Joining OBI, which is very much embarking on its next phase of growth, is very exciting,” he said.

“OBI’s innovative approach is truly unique and I’m already enjoying the great work we are doing with a diverse roster of clients.”

OBI provides advice to its clients across its multi-discipline services which include interior design, project management, dilapidations, rating, leasing and investment consultancy.

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