People on the Move: Primas Law; Cole Waterhouse; ATG Health and Safety Consultancy; Slater Heelis; Clarke Willmott

North West boutique law firm Primas Law has announced the appointment of a new partner to further advance the firm’s fast-growing corporate and commercial department.

Following an increasing number of instructions from commercial clients, Steve Hartley joins the busy Primas Law team after an extensive legal career.

Steve specialises in mergers and acquisitions, funding for acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder agreements and has worked for a number of national and regional legal firms where he led multiple corporate and commercial teams.

He predominantly works with private companies, entrepreneurs, SME’s, owner-managed businesses and family businesses covering the insurance, tech and healthcare industries.

The new appointment will mean Primas can continue its growth strategy while increasing its offering and introducing new sectors to its roster.

Steve said: “Primas’s boutique nature was something that really stood out to me and I knew I wanted to be a part of that. Since meeting with managing partner Adam and the team I’ve really bought into the firm’s culture, vision and growth plans for 2020 and beyond. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be joining the team.

“Primas push the boundaries in terms of what traditional legal practice is – they’re modern, they care, and it’s clear to me that they’re focused on delivering genuine outcomes for clients.”

Primas Law employs 24 staff across three offices in Cheshire, Manchester and London offering a wide range of services including commercial litigation and disputes, real estate and employment law.

Managing partner Adam Kerr said: “We’ve experienced some fantastic growth as a firm, so we’re delighted to announce the appointment of our fifth partner. Steve is an incredibly experienced transactional lawyer and will bring a wealth of knowledge to our team. This appointment speaks volumes of our intent for further growth.

“Steve’s approach fits perfectly into the firm’s ethos of delivering top class advice and service but in a very uncomplicated way and we’re proud to have him on board.”

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Development company Cole Waterhouse has appointed George Smith as planning manager. He joins the eight-strong team at the company’s new offices at 80 Mosley Street, Manchester.

George joins from DP9 in London where he held the position of senior town planner leading on a number of residential and commercial schemes in central London ranging from large scale residential schemes to hotels, office and commercial developments and large private homes.

Prior to DP9, George also worked at Building Design Partnership (BDP) in Manchester and Bilfinger GVA (now Avison Young).

Chief executive Damian Flood said: “George is an excellent planner with experience in both surveying and planning practices. He will be a real asset to the team as we deliver our current projects in Manchester and London and as we move into new areas of the country.

“He will liaise with external planning consultants across all of our schemes to ensure that development timelines are met and projects delivered on time.

“George has significant experience in some of the key sectors we are looking at expanding into and in line with our entrepreneurial environment he will have the remit and freedom to investigate and provide business plans for those.”

George Smith

George added: “Cole Waterhouse has some superb projects which require delivery through planning over the next six-18 months.

“It’s a really exciting time to join such a fast-growing and ambitious company. I’ll be working closely with the management team in Manchester, London and Birmingham to ensure we maximise the potential from the development pipeline and deliver the schemes as efficiently as possible.”

With offices in Manchester and London, Cole Waterhouse has a growing pipeline of development projects across the UK including industrial warehousing, hotels, large scale city centre mixed-use regeneration and residential.

It is currently on-site in Manchester at No.1 Old Trafford, a 214,000 sq ft residential scheme which is scheduled for completion in early 2021.

In Wembley at First Way Campus it is developing the £100m 678-bedroom student accommodation for University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and Unite student living. A third scheme, for a 290-unit residential development at Anchorage in Salford, has recently been submitted for planning.

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An expert who swapped show business for health and safety will strengthen the consultancy arm of a regional law firm.

Sally Shihadah brings 12 years of experience in the field to ATG Health and Safety Consultancy, part of the Napthens Group.

Sally, who previously spent 14 years working in the media at Rock FM and Channel 5 US under the stage name Sally Stone before studying health and safety legislation, has experience providing advice to businesses in the military, NHS, education and leisure sectors.

Sally Shihadah

She will work with clients across the region assisting them to fulfil their health and safety responsibilities through training, advice, inspections and auditing.

Sally is a chartered member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and has experience working with both the public and private sectors, in addition to running her own consultancy.

She said: “Health and safety is such a varied field and I am looking forward to delivering the vision of ATG and Napthens to support local businesses with high quality advice.”

Chris Boyle, partner at Napthens, added: “Since becoming part of the Napthens Group, ATG Health and Safety is going from strength to strength. Sally brings some fantastic experience to the team which will really enhance the support and guidance we provide to businesses across the region.”

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North West law firm Slater Heelis has appointed Clare Cross as HR manager as it continues to strengthen its team.

Clare, who will head up the firm’s HR department, has 17 years’ experience working in key HR roles throughout John Lewis.

As the new HR manager Clare will support the senior management team and employees with all aspects of human resources.

Managing partner, Chris Bishop, said: “We’re thrilled to have Clare on board and she will play a key role in helping us attract and retain top talent.

“Her previous experience speaks for itself and we certainly know we’re in good hands. It’s been a successful few years for the firm and Clare’s appointment will help us continue the momentum in the future.

Clare Cross

“Clare’s appointment as HR manager will further support our commitment to our staff and we’re thrilled that Clare will be a part of this.”

Clare said: “Slater Heelis has a great reputation in the legal world and beyond, I’m delighted to join the team.

“We’ve got some exciting developments in the pipeline which make our HR systems and processes run even more efficiently.

“Slater Heelis is a firm which is committed to its staff, and I can’t wait to further support the team.”

Slater Heelis is a full-service law firm with offices in Sale, Timperley and Manchester city centre offering a range of legal services including, corporate, employment, personal injury, residential and commercial property, family law and private client.

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Specialist clinical negligence solicitor Sarah Jones has joined the medical negligence team of national solicitors Clarke Willmott in Manchester.

The appointment strengthens the firm’s already impressive national offering who are experts in pursuing clinical negligence claims.

Sarah, who specialises in civil litigation and inquests, will head the firm’s North West section.

Chris Thorne, head of personal injury and clinical negligence at Clarke Willmott, said he was delighted to welcome Sarah to the team.

“We are a national personal injury and clinical negligence practice, and Sarah’s appointment will help us develop that further,” said Chris.

“Her recruitment is another vital element in the strategy to establish Clarke Willmott as leaders in the field across the whole of the country.

“Sarah is a very experienced solicitor who has been advising clients with difficult medical negligence cases for many years.

Sarah Jones

“She brings expertise and enthusiasm and fits in well with the profile of our team.”

He added: “Her appointment boosts our Manchester and North West presence and she will work closely with our private client team to meet and provide clients with a holistic service.”

Sarah’s legal practice includes the full range of clinical negligence work, including cases concerning stillbirth, neonatal death and meningitis.

She also advises on medical cases involving psychiatric harm, secondary victims and human rights. She represents families at inquests in the Coroner’s Court.

As an expert in her field, Sarah regularly lectures to GPs and clinicians on medical negligence and has published articles, blogs and book reviews.

Sarah, who hails from North Wales, worked at law firms in Australia before enjoying a successful legal career in the North West

She is currently a member of Liberty and the Association of Women Solicitors, volunteers for death row charity, Amicus, and gives pro bono advice via the East Manchester Legal Advice Centre.