People: Bromleys Solicitors; Gerald Eve; Solomons Europe; Bespoke; Savills
Law firm Bromleys has appointed a new head of its private client and Court of Protection teams and has recruited two more specialists as part of its ongoing expansion.
Associate solicitor Francesca Rigby has joined the Tameside practice to lead the private client and Court of Protection teams. Francesca focuses on a range of private client matters, including wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney, Court of Protection work, trusts and elderly client administration.
As a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, a global body of professionals who help families plan for their futures, she is recognised as an expert in the field of wills and probate.
Her Bromleys colleague, Sue Darlington, is the only other STEP member based in Tameside. Francesca, who has joined Bromleys from Harold Stock & Co in Stockport, is also the only solicitor in Tameside to be a fully accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly.
Bromleys’ family team has been strengthened by the arrival of Danielle Higgins, who has joined the firm as an assistant solicitor.
Danielle deals with all aspects of relationship breakdowns, including divorce and civil partnership dissolution, separation, financial matters upon separation, children matters and injunctions. She has moved to Bromleys from Bridge Law Solicitors, based in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, and Marple Bridge in Stockport.
Meanwhile, Tasneem Rahman has joined Bromleys as a paralegal in the Court of Protection team. She was previously a paralegal at a Manchester city centre firm.
Bromleys has embarked on a recruitment drive amid increasing demand for its services. The award winning firm has, in recent months, added staff to its care proceedings and children services, corporate and commercial and family teams.
Senior partner, Mark Hirst, said: “Francesca brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the firm. She is extremely driven and has an empathetic, yet pragmatic approach which ensures she has the best interests of our clients in mind when acting on their behalf.
“Danielle and Tasneem are great additions to the family and Court of Protection teams, respectively. We are continually looking to expand and have positioned ourselves well with our extensive benefits package and career pathway scheme to attract new talent to the practice.”
Francesca said: “Bromleys is held in high regard across Tameside and the whole of Greater Manchester, so I had no hesitation in accepting the position of head of private client and Court of Protection.
“I’ve inherited two exceptionally well run departments with two great teams and the future looks bright for both of them.”
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Gerald Eve has appointed Julia Chowings as a partner in its planning team, and Tom Dolan-Bent as a partner in its development team, as it demonstrates its ongoing commitment to providing first rate planning and development consultancy both in London and across UK regional markets.
Julia Chowings
Julia, who will be based across the London and Birmingham offices, as well as linking closely with the team in Manchester led by Harry Spawton, will work with both London and regional clients on opportunities outside of central London. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience, most recently at British Land and previously as a partner at Drivers Jonas and Deloitte, Julia will focus on town centre repurposing, logistics projects and major regeneration areas.
Tom will be based between Gerald Eve’s Leeds and Manchester offices and will focus on growing and enhancing the team’s well established government contracts work. This will see him advising on a range of opportunities emerging from the levelling up agenda, in particular around major infrastructure and regeneration proposals.
Tom has almost 20 years’ experience in development, having previously worked for Drivers Jonas and Deloitte, as well as several years working client side for central London developers.
Tom Dolan-Bent
Simon Prichard, senior partner at Gerald Eve, said: “As many of our clients look to grow their portfolios beyond London to capitalise on the rapid regional growth of sectors such as serviced living and build to rent, life sciences, retail repurposing and town centre regeneration, we are investing in our already established national team to ensure we’re offering best in class knowledge and service on both a national and regional level.”
Lisa Webb, partner in the planning and development team at Gerald Eve and a member of the executive board, said: “Both Julia and Tom come to us with impressive track records, expertise across multiple real estate asset classes and a commitment to deliver for our clients.
“This is a hugely exciting time for Gerald Eve as we continue to grow our teams across the UK in response to strong and growing client demand as the post-pandemic recovery sets in.”
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A data analyst, government communications expert and geography and geosciences graduate have embarked on a pioneering new apprenticeship with Solomons Europe that could see them become Chartered Quantity Surveyors in just under three years.
Carl Wright, Jack Riley and Cameron Field have all joined Newton-le-Willows-based practice Solomons as assistant quantity surveyors while they undertake a Level 6, MSc Quantity Surveying Apprenticeship. On completing a two-year MSc Quantity Surveying course, they will embark on a final nine-month leg leading to an MRICS End Point Assessment and review.
If successful they will secure much coveted chartership – something that can typically take upwards of five years to achieve.
The tough and fast-paced apprenticeship is a first of its kind and is being delivered in partnership with the University College of Estate Management.
Victoria Clements, people and performance manager, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Carl, Jack and Cameron to the Solomons team. Resilience, drive, self-motivation and capability were all qualities we looked for during the intensive recruitment process, and they’ll need that in abundance if they’re to complete what must be one of the most challenging apprenticeships out there.
“Like many sectors, quantity surveying is facing a skills shortage at a time when those skills are in growing demand. This is our fresh and bold attempt to reskill talented people from other industries and backgrounds and supporting the next generation.”
Carl and Cameron join Solomons’ North West team based at its headquarters in Newton-le-Willows, while Jack will be based at the Papcastle Depot offices, near Cockermouth, as a member of the company’s growing operations in Cumbria.
In addition to undertaking the apprenticeship course, they will also receive in-house training and gain invaluable experience working on projects spanning power, energy, renewables, highways, infrastructure, process and utilities.
From left: Carl Wright, Jack Riley, Ryan Pringle, Cameron Field
Carl, who has had a nine-year career in data analysis roles, said: “I wanted to go into a new career that was more challenging and where I’d have the opportunity to grow. I looked at quantity surveying and thought it would give me this, and more, working on projects and being part of a team like Solomons.”
Cameron has both a BSc and MSc in Geography and Geosciences and has spent the past three years at the University of Tulsa, United States, on a MSc Scholarship following a successful three years running at Durham University.
He said: “When you listen to the owners, Kerry and Dom Doig, you can see their passion for quantity surveying and it ignites your passion.
“Quantity surveying is all new to me, so I’m taking things one step at a time, but in terms of a long term target I want to be able to point to something in 10 years’ time and be proud to say I worked on that.”
Jack has worked in a diverse range of government communications roles including pilot testing of the NHS COVID-19 Track and Trace service and the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol for post-Brexit export and import procedures.
The University of Cumbria graduate said: “I was generally looking for a job that would challenge me more when I came across Solomons. They sounded like a great company that invested in their people, so I jumped at it. It’s nice to have a three-year plan mapped out and that there’s the prospect of a job at the end. That’s really tantalising.”
The trio are joined by ex-professional cricketer, Ryan Pringle, who becomes part of Solomons’ North East team. Recruitment for further positions in the Solomons Cumbria and North East teams is currently under way.
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Phil Turner has joined digital agency Bespoke as head of digital, bringing with him many years of experience as a successful, board level marketing and commercial director, driving and delivering significant digital business growth and customer acquisition strategies across a range of businesses, both B2C and B2B.
Phil Turner
With technical experience in a full range of digital channels, web development, digital technologies and CRM implementation, Turner is a previous Best Digital Business North West award winner with previous roles including commercial director for Cutting Edge Services and head of digital for PHS Group and Direct 365, e-commerce director for Taylor Corporation and 11 years as e-commerce manager at CCA Occasions.
He said: “I am looking forward to working with Bespoke’s clients, providing commercial direction that identifies and accelerates growth opportunities and customer acquisition by implementing the correct strategies, technologies and market insights.
“What particularly excites me is Bespoke’s partnership approach, working collaboratively with inhouse marketeers to achieve the very best results.”
Employing 12 staff in both Lancashire and London, Bespoke is a lead generation specialist agency. As well as designing and building websites, the agency also delivers online campaigns through retainers to help in-house marketing teams maximise their returns from their online spend.
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Savills Manchester has appointed Robert Waterhouse as an associate director in its development team.
Robert, who is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will be responsible for providing market facing development consultancy advice to housebuilders, developers, property companies and landowners at the international real estate advisors.
His role will include producing market research reports, written representations, development feasibility studies, options appraisals, viability assessments and purchase reports.
Robert Waterhouse
Adam Mirley, director in the development team at Savills Manchester, said: “We are pleased to welcome Robert to the team. His arrival further complements and extends our consultancy offering across the North of England.
“Despite the pandemic creating a very unpredictable 18 months, our team continues to grow, which is incredibly encouraging and symbolises the strength of the North West land and property market.”
Robert joins Savills from BNP Paribas Real Estate where he worked in the development and valuation teams covering the North of England.
His experience ranges from residential developments in provincial towns and rural areas to high profile city centre schemes.
He has previously worked in valuation and agency, undertaking the identification, acquisition and disposal of development land as well as valuations of development land, residential units and commercial property.
He said: “This is an exciting new challenge and a great opportunity to work with a team offering local expertise as well as national and global reach.”
