People on the Move: Harrison Drury; Falconer Chester Hall; Bring Digital; S I Sealy; Begbies Traynor

From left: Gill Ashcroft, Owen McKenna, Maria Roussari, Dulcimer McLaughlin

Harrison Drury has added to its commercial litigation team with the appointment of solicitor Gill Ashcroft.

Gill has re-joined the firm following a spell working for international law firm DAC Beachcroft in Manchester. She originally completed her training contract and qualified as a solicitor with Harrison Drury in September 2018.

She will advise clients on a wide range of commercial disputes including contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes, shareholder disputes and negligence claims.

Gill said: “It’s great to have gained the experience of working within a large international firm.

“I’m now relishing the opportunity of using this experience to help our clients at Harrison Drury. It’s a place that means a lot to me having completed my training and qualified here.”

Owen McKenna, director at Harrison Drury, said: “We’ve focused on making Harrison Drury a great place to work, where our people feel valued, and where they get the right support to make a difference for our clients and communities.

“It’s pleasing to know that our employee offering is able to attract new talent and persuade people to return. Gill is an incredibly bright lawyer and will be an asset to our commercial clients.”

Harrison Drury has also recruited paralegals Maria Roussari and Dulcimer McLaughlin to its commercial property and property litigation teams, respectively.

Maria is originally from Greece and studied in London before moving to Lancaster. She joins the firm from Forbes Solicitors and will be based at Harrison Drury’s Preston office supporting the commercial property team.

Dulcimer, who lives in Blackpool, joins the firm after working as a legal advisor in the Law Clinic at Lancashire Law School for the past two years. She will also work at the Preston office and will assist the property litigation team.

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Sue Gallagher has joined AJ100 architectural practice Falconer Chester Hall (FCH) as marketing manager, based in its Liverpool headquarters.

The experienced marketeer joins from Liverpool’s largest independent accountancy practice, DSG, where she has spent 19 years in a similar function. It is the first time the 80-strong practice has employed someone in the role.

“I’m aiming to hit the ground running,” said Sue.

“There’s a lot to get a grip of, not least because the firm is experiencing strong growth and realising the benefits of an inclusive business plan investment that is now being underpinned with a cohesive marketing programme.”

Sue Gallagher

FCH has recently been appointed to deliver the new Manchester headquarters for fashion brand Boohoo and a series of major residential schemes in both Liverpool and Greater Manchester.

Managing director Adam Hall said: “Sue’s experience in the professional services arena will be invaluable and I’m looking forward to her making an impact. We’re growing across each of our three offices but they all operate in different markets and it’s vital that we communicate with all our clients in a very focused way.”

Falconer Chester Hall has studios in Liverpool, Manchester and London and was this year named as one of the three largest independent practices in the North West to make the Architects’ Journal Top 100 listing.

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Digital marketing agency Bring Digital has appointed a new managing director to lead the company through a record period of growth for the North West business.

Justin Young, former chief digital officer at Comfy Quilts Limited, steps into the role of managing director to drive the Bolton business forward through its next phase of expansion.

The move comes on the back of a record 12 months in which Bring Digital secured contracts with high-profile brands like American Golf, Formula 1 and Cotton Traders, as well as winning several prestigious industry awards.

Justin brings with him 15 years of senior management experience within the eCommerce sector. His credits include operating board-level roles at nationally-renowned brands like Phones4U and Shop Direct, as well as leading both retail and digital SMEs.

“It’s such a pleasure to be working with so many committed and talented people,” he said.

David Ingram, left, and Justin Young

“It’s rare that you’re able to take the wheel of a business that is consistently achieving incredible results and has such a wonderful client base.”

He added: “I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.”

Having served as a non-executive director of Bring Digital since early 2019, it became evident to the board that Justin had the experience and expertise necessary to help steer the company during a time of unprecedented growth.

The founder of Bring Digital, David Ingram, will stay with the business in a strategic delivery role. He will be working closely on key client accounts to sustain and develop the world-class digital delivery the agency says it has built its reputation on.

David said: “Justin’s talent for helping high-growth eCommerce brands reach their full potential is only going to strengthen our client proposition. His leadership experience within both agencies and brands means he’s closely aligned with our mission of providing a truly immersive agency partnership.

“Myself and the board are fully sold on his vision for the business, and we’re excited to back him over the coming years.”

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Stockport-based building services engineering design consultancy, S I Sealy & Associates has appointed Ian Cowlard as its new BIM (building information modelling) manager.

Ian has joined from Ramboll UK where he was BIM lead for building services.

Ian Cowlard

Ian honed his skills and knowledge of BIM having studied BIM Information Management with the BRE Academy. In addition, Ian is an Autodesk Certified Professional for Revit Mechanical Building Systems.

S I Sealy director, Daniel Madden, said: “Ian has unrivalled BIM expertise and has joined us to drive forward our ISO19650 BIM process and digital engineering design process using MagiCAD.

“His appointment will help us realise our ambition to be the North West BIM leaders for MEP engineering.”

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Business recovery specialists Begbies Traynor has made two senior promotions in its Preston office.

Ian McCulloch, previously insolvency director, has been promoted to partner and Chris Lawton, previously insolvency manager, has been promoted to director.

Ian joined Manchester-based Begbies Traynor in 2008 and has handled a variety of high-profile administrations and restructuring cases across the North West, many of which have resulted in going-concern sales, jobs secured, and significant recoveries for creditors. He became a licensed insolvency practitioner in 2010.

Chris joined Begbies Traynor in 2016. He has worked in corporate insolvency for more than a decade – predominantly in the Lancashire region – and passed his insolvency practitioner exams this year.

Paul Stanley, North West regional managing partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “Ian and Chris have an excellent understanding of Lancashire businesses and they have built between them a strong network of lenders, investors, and other professional advisers. Both play a key role in our Preston office which has gone from strength to strength in recent years and these promotions are richly deserved.”

Ian McCulloch said: “I am proud to progress to partner and to be heading the team in Preston. The office has long been an integral part of the Begbies Group and I look forward to maintaining our strong standing in the city and surrounding areas.”

Chris Lawton added: “It is a pleasure to progress within one of most respected insolvency practices in the UK and to continue to provide advice and assistance to businesses across the region.”

Begbies Traynor’s 25-strong Preston office provides services for clients across the whole of Lancashire and up to Cumbria as far as Barrow in the West and Carlisle in the North.

Ian McCulloch and Chris Lawton

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