People on the Move: Weightmans; Irwin Mitchell; RMS; Anwyl Homes

Jim Jordan, left, and Levent Gurdenli

Liverpool-based national law firm Weightmans has welcomed two new partners to its national energy and utilities sector as the firm galvanises its energy offering.

Levent Gurdenli and Jim Jordan both have extensive experience in the energy sector, joining the national energy and utilities sector headed up by partner Simon Colvin. They will be based in the London office but will work with clients across the UK.

Levent has joined from Bird & Bird. A commercial projects lawyer, he has extensive experience advising on projects in the renewable energy sector.

He works with funders, developers and contractors in connection with the development of renewable energy generation using a variety of different technologies.

He also specialises in energy management, assisting clients on the implementation of robust energy management strategies, such as corporate PPAs, energy performance contracts, on-site generation projects and advising developers on district utility schemes for residential or mixed use developments.

Jim arrives from Norton Rose Fulbright. He advises on all aspects of non-contentious matters in the construction and engineering sector with particular experience in energy, where he has advised on a wide range of UK and international projects.

He has also been involved in numerous projects within the oil and gas industry and advises on large-scale property developments and refurbishment projects.

Simon Colvin said: “The energy sector is in a state of transition as businesses look for ways to respond to ever-increasing demands whilst reducing their carbon footprint. The UK is shifting to a low-carbon, smart-energy system and Lev and Jim have arrived at the perfect time to help our clients to navigate this new landscape.

“Weightmans is an environmentally-conscious organisation and as a business we understand the demands of associated regulatory compliance.

“We are working hard alongside our clients to ensure that we help them, but also remain conscious of our own environmental impact, recently achieving ISO14001 accreditation for our environmental management system and we are now seeking ISO50001 for our energy management system.”

He added: “Our team has grown substantially in line with demand for expert energy and utilities experience, and we are delighted to welcome Jim and Lev to the team – they are two very skilled experts with years of industry knowledge who share our goals and understand our clients’ needs.

“Levent and Jim will join me and Tracy Lake – who joined us from the National Grid in-house legal team – to drive forward the growth and development of our energy offering. We are now in the strongest possible position to provide the highest standard of support and advice to our clients.”

::

The Manchester office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell has recruited Claire Petricca-Riding as a new partner in its national planning team and to spearhead development of its environmental practice.

Claire joins from Brabners, where she was a partner, head of planning and environment.

She will be based in Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office but will have a national remit.

Claire’s work has to-date been split between environmental, waste management, planning and renewable energy giving her the technical expertise to manage complex and challenging planning and environmental matters.

She has a solid reputation for undertaking contentious environmental and planning work, acting primarily in defence of both corporate entities and individuals subject to regulatory investigation and prosecution, as well as landowners and developers.

Recent significant work includes advising a large student accommodation developer in Liverpool to provide planning advice and act on the subsequent legal challenge to the grant of planning permission at both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Claire Petricca-Riding

On the environmental side she has represented numerous waste clients in court and acted for a large port organisation in respect of environmental liability and damage.

Her appointment takes Irwin Mitchell’s planning team to nine with four partners.

Last year the firm also recruited Stuart Tym as senior associate to join its Birmingham office.

Planning sits within Irwin Mitchell’s national real estate practice headed by Adrian Barlow which now consists of 33 partners and a team of 90 qualified lawyers from seven offices across the UK.

The department has also been boosting its presence in the North with the appointment of Michelle Beaumont as a partner in Leeds and Paula Hanlon as a senior associate in Manchester in the past year.

Roy Beckett, partner and head of real estate at Irwin Mitchell in Manchester, said: “Claire represents a significant boost to our business division and real estate team in Manchester and will not only help with our clients’ planning needs in the North of England, but her environmental expertise will be an invaluable addition to our skills set.”

::

Altrincham creative communications agency RMS has appointed Roxanne Boulton as account executive in its fast-growing consumer PR team.

Before joining RMS Roxy spent time at Manchester-based agency Manc Franc, as well as several top agencies in Dubai, where she worked on global lifestyle brands.

Account director, Rachel Leamon, said: “We searched long and hard for the right person to fill this role as we continue to expand.

Roxanne Boulton

“As well as great lifestyle experience, Roxy has a creative and ‘can do’ approach, which is essential. Roxy brings with her a wealth of experience in events management and influencer engagement, which is hugely valuable to our clients and agency.”

Roxy will be working on the agency’s growing portfolio of consumer brands that includes Warburtons, Swizzels, Duerr’s, SLUSH PUPPiE Pouches and TGI Friday Cocktails.

Within a week of taking her seat Roxy had managed to get various client products into the British Soap Awards goodie bags, a notoriously difficult feat.

::

Housebuilder Anwyl Homes has appointed Knutsford’s Thomas Bradley as sales manager for Cheshire.

In his new role Tom will be responsible for supporting the homes advisors at Anwyl’s many developments across the Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire areas, motivating and training them to achieve sales targets and ensuring that all purchasers receive the exceptional service and friendly customer care for which Anwyl is renowned.

Having spent a number of years working in the housebuilding industry in a similar role covering the Cheshire and Lancashire regions, he is well qualified for his new position and aims to use his previous experience to support Anwyl as it expands across the North West, specifically in Cheshire and the surrounding areas.

He said: “Anwyl Homes has a great reputation in the industry as a long established family-run business that delivers a quality product and provides a high level of customer service.

“Expanding rapidly across the North West, I am delighted to join the team at this exciting time and help support and develop the brand in Cheshire, a geographical area that I already know very well.”

Sales director at Anwyl Homes, Graeme Gibb, added: “We are pleased to extend our growing presence in Cheshire with the appointment of Tom and I am confident that his skills and knowledge will be a great asset for us in the region.”

Established for more than 85 years, Anwyl Group has three divisions: Anwyl Homes; Anwyl Construction; and Anwyl Land.

Based in Ewloe, near Chester, the family-run business operates across Wales and the North West of England.

Thomas Bradley

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close