People on the Move: Morecrofts; Maguire Family Law; Brabners; Principal Insurance; Medilink UK

David Tournafond with Carol Mason

Highly-experienced private client lawyer David Tournafond has joined Merseyside law firm Morecrofts Solicitors as a consultant.

David has more than 30 years’ experience in advising on a range of matters including tax planning, wills, trusts and probate, as well as residential and commercial property. He specialises in estate planning and asset protection.

In 2015, he received a Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service for his work as committee chair at Liverpool Law Society, where he leads three charitable funds and organises the high-profile Conkerton Memorial Lectures and public speaking competitions.

Morecrofts Solicitors was named Private Client Team of the Year at the prestigious national Law Society Excellence Awards in 2019 and this appointment represents another significant milestone for the team.

David said: “Morecrofts is renowned for the attention to detail and level of care it provides through its private client work and it is now duly recognised as a national leader in this field.

“The firm’s sensitive, professional attitude distinctly reflects my own approach to these matters and Morecrofts feels like a perfect fit.”

Carol Mason, a partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, said: “Our award-winning private client team continues to go from strength to strength and the appointment of a specialist of David’s calibre is another huge step in that upward trajectory.

“He offers great levels of insight and experience to our already excellent team and we have no doubt his expertise will further enhance our service to clients and cement our reputation as one of the best private client teams in the country.”

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Growing Cheshire family law practice, Maguire Family Law has appointed solicitor Robert Webster, who has joined from Alker Ball Healds Solicitors in Wigan.

He brings more than five years’ experience and is a dual-qualified solicitor, having started his career in New zealand, before moving to the UK. Since qualifying, he has worked in commercial and civil litigation, as well as family law.

His appointment coincides with the official opening of the firm’s doors at its new Knutsford office, following rapid growth in 2019.

Situated in Marble Arch on King Street, the move to new premises aims to boost the firm’s presence within the town and will provide more space to welcome its growing client base and house its expanding team.

James Maguire, managing director, said: “2019 was a landmark year for the firm. It saw growth across all three of our locations and appointments of some of the region’s most talented and promising family law experts.

Robert Webster

“We’re totally committed to delivering a first-class service and that starts by making visitors feel comfortable during their first, often nerve wracking, meeting with a divorce lawyer.

“Our new office provides the perfect environment to do this by offering clients a comfortable, safe space to seek professional advice from experts such as Robert and start the journey towards their new lives.”

Robert is particularly skilled in areas including care of children matters, domestic violence proceedings and relationship property division.

He said: “Since moving to the North West I’ve followed Maguire Family Law and having now gained inside insight into how the firm operates, it’s clear to see why it has such a brilliant reputation.

“I look forward to supporting further growth throughout 2020 and giving visitors to the new office a warm welcome.”

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Independent law firm Brabners has further strengthened its real estate practice with the appointment of new partner Roy Barry.

Roy, who joins from Eversheds Sutherland, will be based in Brabners’ Manchester office and will lead the firm’s development, regeneration and infrastructure offering in the city.

Prior to Eversheds, Roy was senior in-house counsel for property at Manchester Airports Group and led several projects relating to the growth of Airport City, the huge employment, retail and leisure scheme.

Roy has led, and been involved with, the delivery of complex real estate projects since qualifying as a lawyer in 2006, including large-scale student accommodation developments, infrastructure programmes, office developments, logistics parks and urban regeneration schemes in major cities.

Roy Barry, left, and Nik White

He said: “From the transformation of Liverpool’s waterfront to the economic hub of Manchester, the North West’s real estate portfolio is seeing huge levels of investment.

“As such it is an exciting time to be advising developers and public bodies in the region as they continue to boost the North West’s standing, both nationally and internationally.

“My focus will be on helping to grow the team, maintaining outstanding client service and ensuring Brabners plays a central role in enabling the schemes that will be crucial to the economic development of the region’s businesses and communities.”

Nik White, managing partner of Brabners, said: “Growing the practice based in our Manchester office is a key part of our strategic growth ambitions.

“Roy has an impressive range of experience, having led and been involved in a number of nationally and regionally significant real estate development, infrastructure and regeneration projects in recent years.

“His skillset will complement the existing capabilities we have in this area, enabling us to increase the team’s presence in Manchester and beyond.”

Brabners’ real estate team comprises 89 lawyers, based in Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. Its clients include Peel L&P, TJ Morris (Home Bargains), property developer Glenbrook and clothing brand Primark.

Roy’s appointment comes after a successful 2019 in which the firm posted continued profit and revenue growth, was listed as the top North West law firm in the Legal 500 table and secured three rankings in The Times’ Best Law Firms 2020.

Brabners generated turnover of £33.6m in the year to the end of April 2019, up from £33.1m the previous year. It invested more than £1.8m to boost growth as part of its three-year change programme.

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Principal Insurance has recruited former Swinton fraud insurance specialist Ian Phillips as fraud manager.

Phillips has been appointed to the newly-created role as part of a wider anti-fraud drive launched last year by the Manchester-based specialist insurance group.

An Accredited Counter Fraud Technician, Phillips spent nearly a decade with Swinton’s anti-fraud team.

He joined as a fraud investigator in November 2009, with successive promotions seeing him become a financial crime and data protection analyst, interim fraud manager and fraud intelligence specialist.

Immediately prior to joining Principal he spent six months contracted as an intelligence officer at the National Anti Fraud Network. There, his responsibilities included supporting NAFN members in handling criminal investigations and sourcing data and evidence to assist prosecutions.

Ian Phillips

His appointment forms part of Principal’s wider strategy for tackling fraud which is a growing problem for the industry.

The Association of British Insurers reported that last year detected fraud grew by three per cent, with 1,300 frauds uncovered daily.

In 2019 the group made a significant investment in the SIRA fraud prevention and detection solution.

This incorporates a national and constantly-updated cross-sector fraud database. It harnesses information drawn from more than 130 financial services, retail and telecommunications businesses as well as the Government’s National Fraud Initiative dataset.

It is claimed that since its inception in 2004, SIRA has identified and defended against almost £4bn of fraud in the UK, Canadian and US insurance and banking sectors.

“Ian’s appointment further signals our commitment to meet head on the challenges presented by what is an escalating industry-wide issue,” said Principal’s managing director, Dave Bowcock.

“As a growing broker we have been targeted by fraudsters and acted decisively to combat the threat they represent. Ian’s experience and expertise, coupled with continued investment in software solutions, will be key in what will be an ongoing battle.”

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Medilink UK, the representative body for the health technology sector in the UK, has appointed Kevin Kiely as its chief executive.

Kevin was co-founder of the Medilink model more than 25 years ago, which, for the first time, brought together in a formal regional association, the health technology and related life science industry, the NHS and universities, to drive innovation across the sector.

Kevin will retain his position of CEO, Medilink North of England, with the Birmingham-based body.

During this time, he has developed a deep understanding and connectivity with the sector throughout the UK and overseas, which plays a key role in the health and wealth of the nation.

Kevin is uniquely placed to work with national agencies to ensure that the needs of the health technology and related life sciences sector are fully considered in all future developments and that opportunities, post-Brexit, are realised.

Bill Cruise, Medilink UK chairman, said: “The strength of Medilink UK continues to be the in-depth relationships that its constituent Medilink organisations have in regions across the UK.

Kevin Kiely

“However, the sector is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, and it has become clear that Medilink UK needs to play a more proactive national role if opportunities are to be maximised. I am, therefore, delighted to announce the appointment of Medilink UK’s first national CEO, Kevin Kiely.”

Kevin said: “Having been involved in the development of regional Medilink organisations across the UK for over 25 years, and seeing the Medilink UK infrastructure grow to a point where it is now the largest representative body for the health technology industry, I understand many of the challenges facing its organisations, not least the demands of the new Medical Device & IVD regulations.

“However, I can also see major opportunities, particularly for international trade, in rapidly-growing markets for health technology products outside of Europe.

“Support in fast tracking innovation (investment, R&D and product adoption) and in driving internationalisation, will be key in 2020, and I look forward to contributing to national developments that will not only stimulate growth in the health technology sector, but also lead to better health outcomes.”

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