People on the Move: Leonard Curtis; Fluid Commerce; Davis Blank Furniss; Poole Dick; McAlister Family Law
To help provide more support in difficult times for accountants and their clients, Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group has appointed Joanne Tipper and Sarah Gaskin as business development managers.
Jo has 20 years’ experience in the hotel and hospitality industry and Sarah has spent the past five years working in event management while studying for a psychology and neuroscience degree.
Both will be tasked with developing the profile of the professional services group – and its Lifecycle network – amongst accountants in the North West, Joanne covering Chester and North Wales and Sarah working across Manchester city centre and as far South as Warrington and Stoke.
They will be based at the firm’s newly-launched Chester office and Manchester city centre UK HQ, respectively, part of a 19-strong Leonard Curtis office network that spans the UK and Channel Islands.
Both are already determining how the services provided by Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group can support accountancy practices, filling skills gaps and extending their client capabilities with its non-core, highly specialised skills.
Joanne said: “This is a change of direction for me, and I am excited about combining my 20 years in business with outreach to accountants in Chester and North Wales.
“Obviously, I have much to bring to a hospitality sector in serious distress at the moment and will draw on my experience, listening carefully and connecting accountants to the right advisory service to help them steer their clients through to recovery.”
Sarah said: “I am also looking forward to getting started at Leonard Curtis. I come from a family who run an accountancy business, so have been around the industry all my life, but this is my first real role in it.
“It is a very tough time for businesses at the moment and I will be doing the same as Jo, getting to know people and problem solving where we can.”
Dan Booth, Leonard Curtis director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jo and Sarah to the team. They have some fantastic sector experience and great energy to bring at a time of considerable economic strain for business owners.
“Both know how to build meaningful relationships with people, which is at the heart of this role, and we wish them every success.”
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Ecommerce agency Fluid Commerce has appointed Dominique Chainee Bell to head up its newly-launched paid social service.
Joining the Manchester-based company as paid social manager, Dominique will be advising retail businesses on strategies for social media advertising campaigns to drive sales of their products and grow brand awareness with consumers.
Dominique said: “Consumer buying habits have shifted. It is crucial for brands to work with agencies that have the relevant experience, passion and, most importantly, vast knowledge of the digital landscape to accelerate their growth.
“Paid social has proven to be one of the most important channels in providing brands with a powerful, competitive edge.
“We’ve already kicked off campaigns for Lakeland Leather and have seen a huge uplift across the board in terms of performance. With a few more campaigns already in the pipeline for the new year, 2021 is most certainly going to be a busy year.”
Her appointment is part of Fluid Commerce’s recruitment strategy to bring people on board who are specialists in emerging global ecommerce channels.
Dominique Chainee Bell
This includes the appointment earlier this year of Victor Fernandez, a specialist in advertising campaigns on ecommerce giant Amazon, which accounts for at least a third of all online consumer spend in the UK.
Jumping straight in with campaigns on platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for clients, Dominique will also be presenting the benefits of TikTok, Pinterest and LinkedIn for relevant retailers. The strategic service will be rounded off with in-depth data analysis for continual improvement and optimisation of campaign performance.
Dominique said: “I’m really excited to be on board. The Fluid team has already proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the digital world and I’m really looking forward to ringing in the new year with some strong results and campaigns for retailers.”
Dominique joins Fluid Commerce from agency Cube 3 where she was a social media specialist for three-and-a half years and found a passion for the performance element of paid social media campaigns. This followed a period studying and working in digital marketing in San Francisco.
Adam Hindle, managing director of Fluid Commerce, said: “The ecommerce market evolves rapidly and new channels are constantly emerging that disrupt the status quo. For this reason, we need specialists on board who can help our clients adapt quickly.
“We are really excited about Dominique’s appointment and to be in a position where we can grow our service offering to clients. She will be able to guide brands through what is an exciting, but sometimes daunting, marketplace.”
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Davis Blank Furniss, the Manchester and Glossop-based law firm, has promoted Rebecca Taylor to associate solicitor in its dispute resolution team.
The firm has also appointed Kirsty Fillery as its newest residential property solicitor.
Rebecca graduated from the University of Manchester in 2014 and completed her LPC at the College of Law.
Rebecca Taylor and Kirsty Fillery
She joined Davis Blank Furniss as a trainee solicitor in September 2016, and was admitted as a solicitor in September 2018. Rebecca works on a variety of commercial and property disputes and, in particular, commercial contract disputes, shareholder disputes, beneficial ownership of property disputes, rights of way disputes and landlord/tenant disputes.
Kirsty joins from Gorvins. She will now be focusing on all types of residential property law, including sales, purchases, re-mortgages, transfers of equity, leasehold, as well as freehold and new build matters.
Managing director, Kate Oldfield, said: “From the beginning of her career, Rebecca has shown a real flare for law and an enthusiasm for her work. She is now an essential part of our dispute resolution department and her promotion is hugely deserved.”
Kate added: “Our residential property team has enjoyed a strong year, so Kirsty’s arrival comes at an exciting time for the department. She brings with her some great experience and I’m sure she will add value to the firm and our clients.”
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Project management and construction cost consultancy, Poole Dick, has announced the promotion of two of its Manchester-based staff to associate directors.
Active in the North West region, Emma Howarth and Catherine Newton have been promoted to recognise their ongoing contribution to the business and its clients.
Emma Howarth
With more than 20 years’ experience Emma, a quantity surveyor, now mainly focuses on carrying out a UK-wide employers agent role. Currently working with Sage on more than 100 units in the North West, Emma’s position also covers heritage works with Rochdale Borough Council on the Greater Manchester Fire Museum and two extra care facilities on the South coast.
With clients including Community Gateway, dwell Student Living and Nikal, Catherine, a project manager working on large mixed-use schemes, has a background in the commercial and retail sectors. Over 12 years working with Poole Dick, this expertise has extended into residential, including housing estates and extra care units.
Managing director, Martin Brownsill, said: “These promotions are very well deserved and demonstrate Poole Dick’s firm commitment to employee development and recognising the expert work our professionals carry out for our clients.
Catherine Newton
“Known in the industry for adopting a new ‘reputational’ vision for the distinctive way our team manages construction projects in the UK, the ‘Poole Dick Way’ was created to reflect the focus we place on our clients and our people in everything we do.
“Delivered by a team who really care about getting the best out of people, the ‘Poole Dick Way’ incorporates the five core values which underline the importance we place on developing our team to deliver quality client care. We’re passionate about achieving the best client outcome, ensuring our people thrive, creating positive energy, ensuring that relationships matter and delivering everyday greatness.
“Emma and Catherine’s promotions are testament to this and our commitment to recognising and rewarding our team’s success.”
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McAlister Family Law, the North West-based, specialist family law practice, has appointed two new solicitors – Heather Lucy and George Wilson.
The firm, which is part of Beyond Group, has climbed the rankings in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners year-on-year and has offices in Manchester city centre and throughout Cheshire. The two new appointees reflect the continued demand for its expertise.
Heather, who graduated with First Class Honours in Law from the University of Leeds and gained her LPC from BPP Manchester, completed her training contract at Vardags while simultaneously studying for her LPC qualification, for which she achieved a Distinction.
She has worked on a wide variety of family law cases, including parental alienation, international divorce and child contact as well as a single case involving assets in excess of £8m. She has already forged a reputation for academic rigour, excellent communication skills and an empathetic approach.
She said: “McAlister Family Law is a firm absolutely committed not only to divorce and related finance work, but also to the welfare of children through its unique specialist children teams. To have the opportunity of being able to work on both is incredible. The firm’s reputation as family law experts is outstanding, and I am delighted to be able to join them as they continue building something unique in the industry.”
George graduated from Northumbria University with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) MLaw exempting, where he also worked as a legal adviser within the Student Law Office.
From left: Heather Lucy, Amanda McAlister, George Wilson
He joined Vardags in 2017 as a paralegal, before being awarded a training contract only six months later. He chose early in his career to focus on family law, and has worked in various areas of that specialism, including private law children, and divorce and finances.
He said: “I find family law incredibly rewarding because there is something special about picking someone up from a bad situation and helping them towards a good one.
“McAlister Family Law has had a huge impact on the region and beyond, and this is a very exciting move for me, as the firm continues its rapid growth and increasing dominance of the family law market.”
Amanda McAlister, managing partner, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Heather and George on board. Both are very talented young lawyers and bring skills and experience that complement the already comprehensive offering here at McAlister Family Law.
“Like everyone within our firm, they are dedicated to delivering the very highest level of service to our clients.
“Our excellent new recruits will, I am sure, make a significant contribution to the team as we continue to grow as a firm and cement our reputation as one the UK’s leading family law firms.”
Beyond Group head, Matt Fleetwood, said: “George and Heather are a perfect fit for the group’s culture and values. McAlister Family Law has been extraordinarily successful since we established the firm three years ago, and it’s great to see it expand further with these new recruits.”
