People: Redrow; Weightmans; Squire Patton Boggs; Fluid Commerce; Williamson & Croft; New Care
Promotion to technical manager at Redrow NW, in Daresbury, Cheshire, is the latest step up for Chris Dobson.
Chris, 36, first joined the team at Redrow in 2011 as a designer and has had several promotions over the past 10 years, becoming senior design manager in 2019 and now technical manager.
His credentials include a First Class Honours Degree in Interior Architecture and an MSc in Project Management.
Chris is involved in almost every project/site within the NW operating area, which includes Cheshire and parts of North Wales, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
He said: “My role covers all the varying project stages from initial feasibility, through planning the developments to them becoming live sites and then, eventually, close down and legacy.
“Whilst I’ll still be undertaking a large part of the design management, a primary focus in my new role is looking at the overall department to ensure we meet development programme dates and deliver the on site technical requirements for the rest of the business.”
Jason Newton, Redrow NW, managing director, said: “Chris’s career progression within the business is typical of Redrow’s approach. Nurturing talent, helping staff to develop new skills and enabling them to further their careers are key elements of our commitment to valuing people.”
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Liverpool-based national law firm Weightmans has appointed four new partners, spanning its specialisms and offices, to support the firm in its growth.
Michael Balmer joins the Manchester office as part of the regulatory team, specialising in business and financial crime. Formerly of Cartwright King, where he headed up their business crime and cybercrime teams, Michael has represented individuals and corporate bodies against the Serious Fraud Office, HMRC, NCA and CPS facing charges such as fraud, bribery and corruption, and money laundering.
Recognised by the Legal 500, Michael is also an experienced magistrates’ court advocate and qualified Crown Court Higher Rights Advocate.
Antony Ball has been appointed to the family team in Weightmans’ Leeds office. He joins as a partner from Knights, formerly Keebles, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in finance and child matters, including complex cases involving pre-marital assets and inherited wealth.
Michael Balmer
Antony is an accredited mediator, collaborative lawyer, Resolution-accredited specialist and member of the Law Society Advanced Family Panel, with expertise in the drafting of pre and post nuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements.
Louise Miller joins the Newcastle office, heading up its wills, trusts and estates team. Recognised by the Legal 500 for her work, Louise has expertise in all aspects of estate planning, including powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters. Louise joins Weightmans from Mincoffs Solicitors and is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Nicola Pegg is based in Birmingham in the firm’s health sector practice. She joins from Bevan Brittan’s clinical risk department, where she ran a team managing defendant clinical negligence claims. She has more than 17 years’ experience working for NHS Resolution, hospital trusts and private healthcare insurers. She has a particular focus on brain injury at birth claims and other high value catastrophic injury cases.
John Schorah, managing partner, said: “Our four new partners join at an exciting time for us as we look to expand our senior team and deepen our expertise across our core sectors. They bring a unique range of skills and specialisms, with the appointments to the family and wills, trusts and probates teams significantly strengthening our offering for individuals.”
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Law firm Squire Patton Boggs has promoted three senior lawyers to the Manchester partnership. Victoria Murphy (tax strategy & benefits) trained and qualified with the firm and, along with Emma Ball (intellectual property & technology) and Matthew Canipa (corporate), comprise this year’s cohort of newly promoted partners.
Victoria Murphy has experience in a wide variety of taxation matters with a specialism relating to corporate finance in both the mergers and acquisitions, and private equity fields, alongside a depth of experience in employment taxes, share schemes and employee benefits. Victoria trained with the firm and is listed in The Legal 500 UK 2022 as a rising star. She is also a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser.
Emma Ball is a commercial and IP lawyer with considerable experience in advising on all manner of supply and procurement agreements and IP licensing. Before joining the firm she worked in house as a lawyer for MyTravel Group/Thomas Cook, and with her particular interest and expertise in the hospitality, leisure and travel industry, she now advises clients in these and other sectors on various matters, including franchising and brand licensing and hotel and property/asset management agreements.
From left: Victoria Murphy, Rob Elvin, Matthew Canipa, Emma Ball
Matthew Canipa advises on all aspects of corporate finance work and has a particular specialism in private equity and mergers and acquisitions, in the local, national and international markets, acting for private equity houses, corporates, management teams and owner-managers.
In the past 12 months Matthew has advised on Vitruvian’s investment into AnyVan, the sale of Reward Gateway to Abry Partners and Castik Capital, ECI’s exit from KB Associates, Regis’s Leaf Living joint venture with Blackstone and a number of acquisitions for international web hosting business Miss Group.
Rob Elvin, managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs in Manchester, said: “I would like to congratulate our new partners on their well deserved promotion. Whether our lawyers are home grown or joining us from other firms, we are focused on creating the right climate to enable them to flourish and establish long and successful careers. This latest round of promotions is testament to the achievements of our new partners and also to the efforts of many people in the firm who have worked to support them on their journey.”
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Manchester ecommerce agency Fluid Commerce has appointed June Gil to head up and expand its specialist paid search services.
As head of paid search, June will be responsible for developing strategies for retail clients from the home and garden, beauty and fashion sectors, who are keen to achieve growth by targeting shoppers on Google.
June is also tasked with growing the team, both in terms of headcount and through new client wins, and raising its profile in the industry.
June Gil
She will work closely with Fluid’s Amazon and paid social media services to ensure there is a joined up approach to client briefs.
Joining from CTI Digital, where she spent four years, June has 12 years’ ecommerce experience and has also worked at McCann and boutique agency Clickoo.
She said: “This is an exciting opportunity and I am thrilled to be on board. The freedom to hire and nurture a team, and to implement processes and ideas, was definitely a big draw for me. I am really looking forward to shaping paid search services at Fluid and helping new and existing clients to achieve the growth they are seeking.”
Adam Hindle, managing director, said June was a valuable addition to the agency: “June is very experienced and enthusiastic and that’s exactly what was needed for this role. She has hit the ground running and is already contributing some fantastic ideas for how we service paid search clients.”
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Accountants and tax advisors Williamson & Croft has promoted Chris Watson to tax partner.
Chris has been with the Manchester company since July 2020 as tax director. He has more than 10 years’ experience of being a tax professional and has brought a wealth of knowledge.
Chris Watson
He assists companies with acquisitions, disposals, reconstructions, and share schemes and has a interest in trusts and estate tax planning. Chris is also a specialist with personal tax matters, HMRC investigations, and advising on Stamp Duty Land Tax and VAT.
Daniel Moon, partner at Williamson & Croft, said: “Chris has been a brilliant asset since he joined the team and appointing him as tax partner is a testament to his hard work and dedication to growing the tax services department.”
Chris said: “I look forward to growing the already successful tax department. I am excited to become an integral part of the management team in the future.”
Williamson & Croft is an accountancy, tax & advisory practice based across offices in the North West offering accountancy, tax, audit & assurance, transaction services, and forensic accounting.
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Lisa Astley, from Bolton, has been appointed registered manager at Bridgewater Manor, New Care’s latest care facility located on Walkden Road in Worsley.
Lisa Astley
The £15m, 71-bedroom care home opened late last year and with more than 17 years’ experience in care home management, Lisa is perfectly placed to fully establish the facility.
Lisa joined New Care 12 months ago and was previously the registered manager at the company’s care home in Sale; Ashlands Manor. Lisa has been involved in Bridgewater Manor throughout the build process, and she has personally welcomed the first residents.
She said: “I have enjoyed being involved in the development of Bridgewater Manor and am delighted the care home is now open, with residents moving in regularly.”
Chris McGoff, CEO at New Care, said: “Lisa has already proved to be an exceptional home manager for New Care and we believe her knowledge of the company and her vast experience will ensure she establishes Bridgewater Manor, quickly positioning it as the care home of choice in Worsley.”
New Care is part of the Altrincham-based McGoff Group.
