People: Jackson Lees; DeliveryApp; First Choice Homes Oldham; Sovini Group; CFG Law; Falconer Chester Hall
North West law firm Jackson Lees has expanded and bolstered its new corporate and commercial team with the appointment of Rebecca Emmitt, who joins as a commercial property lawyer.
After graduating in Law from the University of Chester in 2014, Rebecca became a paralegal and took up a training contract. During this time, she developed an interest in commercial property law, specialising in development, and has practiced in this area since qualifying as a solicitor in 2018.
At Jackson Lees, Rebecca’s expertise will allow her to work on a broad range of areas within commercial property, including sales, purchases, and landlord and tenant work.
Rebecca’s arrival also provides additional skills, knowledge and capacity to the new and growing corporate and commercial team. Rebecca said: “I am excited to contribute towards the development and expansion of the team and I believe my pragmatic approach to the team and commitment to great client care and a high level of service will help us go from strength to strength and continue to grow.”
Charlotte Mills, director and head of corporate and commercial, and Victoria Evans, head of commercial property are hoping to grow the department over the coming year and further enhance its offerings, focusing particularly on the way in which the services are delivered – supportive, client focused and delivered with care.
Victoria Evans said: “Rebecca is exactly what we have been looking for to support our department’s ongoing growth. Rebecca is very capable, with a keen focus on delivering excellent client service and will be a great asset to our dedicated commercial property team.”
Esther Leach, managing director for Jackson Lees Group, said: “Rebecca is a brilliant addition to the wider corporate and commercial team, and we’re looking forward to working with her to bring our new business offering to investors and SMEs across the Liverpool City Region and further afield.”
::
Manchester-based delivery tech firm, DeliveryApp has appointed a new CEO to oversee the company as it continues to experience rapid growth as, what it claims, the fastest growing deltech company in the UK.
Dwain McDonald, who formerly sat in the position as CEO of DPD Group UK, will assist the company in its expansion strategy through his vast experience in leadership, innovation and technology in the logistics and delivery sector.
As Dwain takes on the role as CEO, founder, Lance Jones, will move into the position of executive chairman, working alongside Dwain in furthering DeliveryApp’s growth as a tech leader in the space.
Dwain McDonald
Having worked at DPD for more than three decades, Dwain is an industry expert in the logistics space. During his 12 years as CEO, he drove DPD from a mid-tier B2B carrier to one of the top home delivery couriers in the UK market, during his 12 years as CEO.
He said: “DeliveryApp’s goal is to change the logistics industry for the better through their focus on technology and ethical driver treatment, resulting in more transparent customer care. I am excited to become part of a young and expanding company in this competitive industry.”
Lance Jones said: “Dwain’s leadership and experience will be instrumental to DeliveryApp’s mission to become the leading on-demand technology delivery platform in the world.”
Mark Stott, founder and CEO of the property development firm Vita Group and lead investor at DeliveryApp, said: “We’re incredibly confident that Dwain’s appointment as CEO will cement DeliveryApp as a trailblazer in the logistics sector. His experience will ensure DeliveryApp continues to evolve and provide business or retailers with robust delivery services built on a foundation of technology that prioritises customer needs. With Lance stepping up to executive chairman, the team at DeliveryApp are excited for the next phase in revolutionising the industry.”
::
Oldham’s biggest provider of social housing has announced the appointment of Dr Delroy Beverley as its new chief executive.
Dr Beverley will take the helm in May, having most recently served as managing director for a private sector commercial NHS Facilities Management Partnership.
He brings to the role more than 25 years of executive experience in business and leadership across a variety of sectors including social housing, charity, health, local government, education and the arts.
Throughout much of the past 25-plus years, his senior and executive roles in housing have included asset and housing management, repairs and maintenance, commercial business growth, and construction and development.
He was previously director of property solutions at Incommunities Group, one of the UK’s largest providers of social housing, and executive director of Nottingham City Homes, where he was part of the executive management team which led the organisation to secure the Landlord of the Year 2018 title in the UK Housing Awards.
Dr Delroy Beverley
In the same year he was named by Inside Housing as one of the UK’s top 10 outstanding black housing professionals for his business leadership achievements and commitment to inspiring the next generation.
Dr Beverley said he was honoured by his appointment: “As a former resident of the Chadderton area of Oldham, it is a privilege to be able to lead this community-focused, well respected organisation into a new era.
“At a time of significant and unprecedented changes within society and exciting opportunities in Oldham and the wider city region, I look forward to working with the board, leadership teams and colleagues to keep customers at the centre of what we do best.”
Ged Lucas, chair of FCHO, who is due to retire from his position at the end of April having served his full term in office, said: “The board and everyone here at FCHO are delighted to welcome Delroy as chief executive to lead our organisation.”
“Customers are at the heart of what we do and Delroy’s wealth of experience and passion for providing quality homes and supporting thriving communities make him the ideal candidate to take us forward as we continue to deliver our Big Plan and provide homes and services we are proud of.”
In July 2022 the housing provider announced it had secured a £95m funding package from Santander UK. This is supporting its development programme to build another 700 new high quality, sustainable new homes in Oldham and surrounding areas by 2026, and contributing to decarbonisation work to make existing homes more energy efficient for customers.
Delroy Beverley replaces the organisation’s previous chief executive, Donna Cezair, who was appointed chief executive at Worthing Homes in Sussex earlier this year.
::
Construction, property, and facilities services company, The Sovini Group has appointed James Flannery as its new director of construction and land.
James will be responsible for the growth and development of Sovini Construction, while overseeing and ensuring successful land acquisition.
The new-build specialist will lead the group’s development framework which aims to support the region’s housing demand through the creation of more than 1,000 high quality, affordable homes within the next five years.
James Flannery
James, who is a business owner himself, has also worked for Balfour Beatty, Tyson Construction and Thomas Armstrong during his 35-year career. He said: “I look forward to playing an active part in delivering growth for Sovini Construction and their communities.”
Anita Harrison-Carroll, chief business officer at The Sovini Group, said: “James has wide ranging experience across the construction industry spanning large infrastructure projects to housebuilding. His understanding of the sector enables him to bring a valuable outlook as we pursue our strategy of deepening and elevating our relationships with our clients.”.
The Sovini Group commercial partners include Sovini Property Services, Sovini Trade Supplies, Sovini Waste Solutions, Amianto Services and Teal Scaffold.
::
Nine colleagues at North West-based CFG Law, including two new partners, are celebrating after a record year for promotions at the expanding serious injury business.
All nine begin their new roles this week at the firm, which has also agreed a number of long term partnerships for new business in the past 12 months as it continues its recent record of growth.
The newly-promoted colleagues include partners and solicitors Emma Jones and Natasha Ulph, both of whom support people affected by brain, spinal and other serious injuries and help them achieve their best possible outcomes through legal claims enabling them to access vital rehabilitation.
Back row L-R: Sarah Barrett, Steve Maloret, Emma Jones. Front row L-R: Chris Baxendale, Caroline Trinder, Sukwinder Ark, Rebecca Hilton, Louise Farrar, Natasha Ulph
Four senior associates have also been named in the 2023 promotions round, including solicitors Sukwinder Ark, Chris Baxendale and Louise Farrar as well as partnerships manager Steve Maloret.
The nine promotions are rounded off by three new associates, including two in CFG’s newest office in East Anglia, which the firm opened in 2021 – solicitor Sarah Barrett and rehabilitation and support lead Caroline Trinder. North West-based solicitor Rebecca Hilton completes the trio of new associates.
The news follows on from a strong year for CFG Law, ,which has offices in Manchester and Cheadle, in which it agreed new long term partnerships across the UK in regions including the Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East and South West.
CEO Richard Clark said: “This is fantastic news for all nine of our colleagues and for our business as a whole. It’s a record promotions round for us which shows just how far and fast our business is progressing.
“All nine have played a key role in our success, not just in the last year but in guiding us successfully through the challenging years that every business has faced, emerging in a very good place to continue supporting and helping even more people affected by injury.”
Seven of the promoted colleagues work with clients and partners nationally from the firm’s two offices in the North West, with the remaining two based at CFG’s office in Fornham All Saints, near Bury St Edmunds.
::
Falconer Chester Hall has made four new hires as its recruitment programme unfolds.
Alex Brammer has joined the Liverpool studio as an associate and is now working as part of a team delivering the One Park Lane project in the city for Legacie Developments.
Ivan Donchev has joined as a senior architectural technician and is working with the team on the Jubilee House project in Stratford.
Sol Kleese joins as a senior architect and will be working on the One Park Lane project in Liverpool, while Adchana Sivaram joins the firm’s London studio as an architect.
From left: Adchana Sivaram, Ivan Donchev, Sol Kleese, Alex Brammer
Managing director, Adam Hall, said: “All four of our new colleagues bring a really interesting set of skills and experience to the team and they each asked to jump right in at the deep end, which is great.
“We have a number of substantial projects under way across the country and these appointments will help us ensure our capacity matches demand.”
Ivan Donchev said: “I’m looking forward to working on large scale projects across the country and to playing my part in delivering the Jubilee House new-build in Stratford. I am eager to make an impact on this one and to leave my stamp on landmarks across the country.”
The appointments follow the firm’s recent announcement of £300m of new project wins in Liverpool, London and Nottingham, taking the GDV of its confirmed order book past £1.5bn.
