People: Primas Law; Pinsent Masons; BluprintX; Jackson Lees; B&S Group; Great Places Housing Group

Dylan Quail

North West boutique law firm Primas Law has appointed a new consultant within its corporate recoveries and insolvencies team as it launches bold growth plans for the new financial year.

Following a successful 2021, Primas Law is expanding its corporate recoveries and insolvency department with the addition of Dylan Quail.

Dylan joins from Hanover Insolvency, and was previously a partner at Begbies Traynor, with more than 20 years’ experience as a solicitor. Dylan’s work encompasses all aspects of insolvency work with a strong emphasis on transactional work. His experience as an insolvency practitioner in both independent and national practices brings a unique perspective to his work.

Head of corporate recoveries and insolvency, Chris Love, said: “Dylan’s appointment is a testament to how well the team has managed through the challenges of the pandemic, as we continue to grow teams across all departments. Dylan joining the team will greatly enhance the services we offer to clients, while ensuring we continue to provide high quality solutions we’re known for.”

Dylan said: “I’m thrilled to have joined the team at such an exciting time and to be a part of its ambitious plans for the future.

“Primas’s refreshing approach to law is what first caught my attention. Finding practical and straight forward solutions to complex problems is a refreshing approach within the industry. I’m really looking forward to progressing alongside Primas Law, and to be joining such an experienced insolvency practitioner in Chris.”

Primas Law is also celebrating the promotion of four team members across its litigation and corporate and commercial departments.

Litigation solicitors Hannah Wilson and Lauren Steel-Smith and corporate and commercial solicitors Jonathan Barratt and Alena Makarevich have all been promoted to associates in their respective teams.

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Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed employment partner, Neil Black, as the new head of its Manchester office.

Having joined the firm in 2005, Neil currently heads up the employment & reward team in Manchester. Neil, who takes up his post on May 1, will take over from corporate partner Helen Ridge who is retiring from the firm following a 16 year career at Pinsent Masons.

Helen has led the firm’s Manchester office since 2007 through a period of significant growth.

Neil Black

An employment law specialist, Neil has recently advised on a number of high profile matters and is a trusted adviser to the likes of Wincanton, Costain, Mondelez, Weetabix, Rolls-Royce and Jaguar Land Rover.

John Cleland, managing partner, said: “Helen has been instrumental in leading Pinsent Masons’ presence in Manchester since 2007 and we thank her for her contribution to the firm. Neil is a well respected and established lawyer in the North West who’s experience leading the Manchester employment practice will be an asset as the Manchester office embarks on its next chapter.”

Lawyers based in the firm’s Manchester office have led on a range of significant transactions in recent years such as advising Kids Planet Day Nurseries on its 17 acquisitions and majority sale to Fremman Capital, acting for the shareholders on the sale of SRL Traffic Systems Limited and advising on the merger of two northern-based price comparison websites Ice-lolly.com and Travel Supermarket.

Neil Black said: “I am looking forward to building on the great work that Helen has done.

“The North West is a thriving, dynamic region with a burgeoning global reputation. With the collaboration and support of my colleagues I will look to strengthen our existing commitment to the North West market whilst utilising our fantastic network of international offices to support clients in the region who are looking to thrive in the global marketplace.”

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BluprintX, a Liverpool-based rapidly growing group of businesses who provide MarTech, SalesTech, and Work Management solutions to help companies drive revenue growth, has strengthened its board with the appointment of Zoe Alldritt as group finance and commercial director.

As it accelerates its international expansion through a robust buy and build strategy, Zoe will be responsible for enhancing business performance through operational efficiencies, financial processes, and acquisition integrations.

Having fast-tracked her 17-year career through various commercial finance and leadership roles, Zoe has spent the past six years as divisional finance director at Restore Digital, part of Restore PLC. In this board-level position, Zoe was instrumental in increasing annual turnover significantly and completed the successful integration of multiple acquisitions to deliver ROI above forecast.

Zoe Alldritt

Effective April 4, 2022, the company said the appointment underpins BluprintX’s commitment to establishing a talented and diverse workforce, with Zoe set to be a valuable and inspirational mentor to its global female talent.

Zoe said: “I’m excited to be part of a business that embraces diversity, nurtures talent, and has a clear roadmap for global growth. This is a real opportunity to leverage my previous experience with global businesses while bringing new ideas to the top table – all focused on cementing the group’s foundations, driving revenue and increasing profitability.”

In 2022, BluprintX acquired Color Consultancy, a UK Salesforce partner, and WMA, a Workfront specialist in Australia.

Lee Hackett, Group CEO, said: “As we bring new businesses into the BluprintX family, strengthening the group board is a fundamental pillar in successful execution of our buy and build expansion. Zoe is the latest appointment to underpin this group-led strategy. Her PLC experience and technical expertise will be instrumental in cementing the foundations we need to achieve our long term ambitions while delivering stable and continued growth.”

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North West law firm Jackson Lees has strengthened its team with an experienced lawyer to enhance the offering of its family law department.

Anna Francis joins the firm from Merseyside-based Berkson Family Law and has more than 15 years’ experience in family law, choosing to specialise in matrimonial law in recent years. In her new role at Jackson Lees’ Hoylake office, Anna will play a key role in supporting clients and helping the wider team.

Since entering the legal sector as an office junior, Anna studied at the Law Academy in Liverpool and worked her way up to Chartered Legal Executive, qualifying in 2015.

The Chartered Legal Executive (CLE) path focuses on studying towards a degree-level qualification while working in industry and provides an alternative route into the legal sector. Anna champions the CLE route for being more accessible.

Anna Francis

She said: “I’m extremely proud to join Jackson Lees and I look forward to applying my vast experience in family law with clients, whilst learning from like-minded professionals around me.”

Anna is also a member of Resolution, a group for lawyers who strive for a non-confrontational approach to family law issues to provide better outcomes for separating families and their children. Her appointment coincides with the biggest shake-up to divorce law in more than 50 years, as No-fault Divorce legislation is brought in, meaning separating couples no longer need to apportion blame to one another as a reason for the breakdown of their marriage when applying for a divorce.

Esther Leach, managing director, said: “We are excited to welcome Anna to the team and are confident she will be a real asset to our group of dedicated professionals.

“Anna stood out to us for her personable and friendly approach which we know will be key when helping to resolve matrimonial issues for our clients. Her abundance of experience and membership of Resolution will also provide support to our junior team members who are looking to progress through their career.”

Jackson Lees employs more than 280 employees spanning six offices.

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Chester-based B&S Group has appointed Ian Jones who joins the senior management team as head of finance this month.

The appointment is part of a new management structure following the recent management buyout.

Ian Jones

Having previously worked across a range of sectors, from SMEs to blue chip companies, including Tritech Group and Kellogg’s, Ian has always been in a manufacturing environment. Alongside extensive knowledge of manufacturing operations, Ian brings a wealth of experience in management accounting, in addition to product costing, stock control, and systems implementation.

Ian said: “It is certainly exciting to have the opportunity to work with a company that is going through a big transition and is looking to grow in the right sectors. The current management team, together with High Wood Capital and its investors, are focused on the growth of B&S Group and have a clear strategy to achieve their goals. I look forward to being a part of this.”

B&S Group provides full service design, manufacturing and installation solutions for a range of industry control applications, power systems and energy management processes.

Established in 1989, it collaborates with several major energy suppliers within the UK and Europe, supporting some of the world’s largest renewable energy projects.

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Nick Gornall has been promoted to the role of director of Development at Great Places Housing Group.

Reporting to Helen Spencer, Great Places’ recently appointed executive director of growth, he will be responsible for overseeing its affordable development teams and the delivery of the Manchester-based housing group’s £1bn affordable housing development programme.

Nick joined Great Places in 2016 as a development manager before moving into his current position of head of development the following year, leading the delivery of the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes (SOAHP) and Homes England Strategic Partnership 1 programmes amounting to more than 2,000 new homes in that time.

Nick Gornall

He has also been involved in a number of high profile projects and bids, most recently the successful second Strategic Partnership bid with Homes England and Great Places’ Innovation Chain North procurement framework.

Nick said: “I’m really looking forward to taking on this new challenge and continuing playing a leading role in developing the team and helping Great Places realise its ambitious development plans.”

Helen Spencer, executive director of growth at Great Places, said: “As head of development Nick has achieved some incredible things in the past five years, successfully overseeing the building of over 2,000 affordable homes as well as being hugely influential in the professional development of many colleagues within our award winning team.

“This is an exciting time for our affordable development programme and Nick’s appointment is recognition of the key role he has played and will continue to play in helping Great Places realise its growth ambitions and our commitment to promote talent from within our organisation where appropriate.”

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