People: Realm Recruit; Ramboll; Hugh Jones Solicitors; Fletchers; Wain Estates; Smoking Gun
Legal attraction, retention and recruitment consultancy, Realm Recruit, has taken on two new recruitment consultants and promoted three members of its existing team as it broadens its service offering for lawyers and law firms.
Layla Jackson has joined Altrincham-based Realm as a Senior Consultant, bringing with her three decades of legal recruitment experience. Her joining signals Realm’s expansion into non-contentious commercial law recruitment; Layla will specialise the recruitment of corporate, commercial, employment and real estate lawyers.
Amanda Bower has also joined the team as a Senior Consultant and, in response to the buoyancy of the North West family law recruitment market, will specialise in the recruitment of family and care lawyers across Greater Manchester and East Cheshire. Amanda has worked in legal recruitment for several years after spending five years working within the law.
Realm Recruit has also made a series of promotions within its specialist team. Bill Szajna-Hopgood has been promoted to Associate Consultant, Lucy Wickham has been promoted to Principal Consultant and Chloe Whittaker has progressed to Office Manager.
Realm’s managing director Duane Cormell said: “I’m delighted to welcome Layla and Amanda to the business. Their arrival at Realm will enable us to further increase the breadth and depth of our market coverage, helping law firms attract and recruit and retain the best lawyers in a highly competitive talent market, as we continue to bolster our reputation as the go-to specialist legal recruitment consultancy in the North West.”
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Richard Smith
Global engineering, design and sustainability consultancy Ramboll has appointed Carl Wells and Richard Smith as directors in Ramboll’s Manchester office. Both directors join Ramboll from Cundall.
Carl Wells brings more than 20 years’ experience to his new role and has been responsible for managing the delivery of large scale multidisciplinary projects in the UK and internationally in the education, residential, science, defence and retail sectors. In particular, Carl brings extensive expertise in electrical design, project leadership and sustainable electrical systems that will support Ramboll in the delivery of net zero power work for its clients. He is welcomed back to Ramboll, having previously worked for the firm in Dubai, London and Manchester.
Carl Wells
Richard Smith is a recognised expert in ultra-low carbon design and NABERS rated buildings. He also brings more than 20 years of experience to Ramboll, leading multi-office, multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects in the UK and overseas in sectors including retail, education, commercial, leisure and residential.
Jason Layfield, UK Executive Director, Buildings of Ramboll, said: “The breadth and depth of their combined skills and experience, particularly in the delivery of low carbon projects, will further strengthen our service delivery. Both Carl and Richard are well known in the industry for their expertise in sustainability and I look forward to seeing them put that to use to support our clients in the transition to net zero.”
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Owen Cafferty
Boutique legal practice, Hugh Jones Solicitors, has bolstered its Court of Protection team with the appointment of a new associate solicitor.
Owen Cafferty joins the Manchester-based Court of Protection specialist at a time of significant growth and brings three years of post-qualification experience in finance and property work.
Owen works with a wide range of vulnerable clients, supporting them and their families to manage their funds and budgets.
He said: “I’m passionate about helping improve lives and reduce stress for those lacking capacity and their families. This value exists across the whole firm, and it’s inspiring to work somewhere where the whole team is focused on a common goal.”
Managing director, Liz Hughes, said: “Owen is a valuable addition to our team – he thoroughly understands the unique challenges that Court of Protection matters present and approaches work with as much empathy as he does expertise. We’re thrilled to have him on board.”
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Polly Herbert
North West personal injury and clinical negligence law firm, Fletchers Solicitors, has appointed a new partner to bolster its catastrophic injury offering.
Joining from Hugh James, Polly Herbert has more than 20 years’ experience supporting clients and their families who have suffered life changing injuries such as brain injuries (in both adults and children), spinal cord injuries and amputation. Polly has also represented bereaved families as a result of road death and is a keen supporter of road safety charities, offering her time to train Police Family Liaison Officers on civil law and how to support families during such difficult times.
Previously, Polly was Partner and Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury at CFG Law and held Partner roles at Slater and Gordon and Fentons Solicitors.
Polly said: “The firm’s reputation in serious injury is second to none and I’m excited to be part of a growing and talented team with an excellent culture and great opportunities for professional development.”
Caroline Morris, Director of Serious Injury at Fletchers, said: “It is my absolute pleasure to welcome Polly to Fletchers. She is so highly regarded across the industry, so much so that she had the opportunity to join several other firms, so we feel very honoured that she decided to choose Fletchers.”
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Ryan James, Angela Heaney, Neil Lewis
Strategic land company Wain Estates has announced two senior appointments to help deliver its ambitious targets for 2024 and beyond.
Ryan James has been recruited as Land Director while Neil Lewis joins as Planning Director. Both have extensive experience in both the public and private development sector and will be based at the company’s head office at Birchwood.
Angela Heaney, Wain Estates Managing Director, said: “Over the last 12 months we have been recruiting dynamic people with the right skills and ethos to help Wain Estates achieve its national growth.
“The coming 12 months will see major assets progressed and brought to market and we are equally ambitious to continue to acquire new sites across England.
“Ryan and Neil both have the experience and vision to help us do this in the most positive and productive way and I am extremely pleased we now have an impressive team in place.”
Ryan, who joins from Equans UK & Ireland, previously worked with Knowsley Borough Council helping to deliver the authority’s successful local plan. He said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity offering a national role within a very focused team.”
Neil will use his extensive experience in strategic planning to help create legacy developments that greatly benefit communities. He said: “As well as working with the whole Wain Estates team on some exciting projects, I am really impressed with the culture of the business, its commitment to staff and contribution to the communities where it works.”
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Smoking Gun leadership team
Manchester communications agency Smoking Gun has announced changes whereby co-founder Rick Guttridge becomes CEO, Hayley Peters becomes Planning & Strategy Director, Sarah Twyman becomes Head of Consumer & Client Services Director, while recent recruit, Caroline Aspinall, is Head of B2B & Commercial Director.
The wider SMT comprises Head of Media Carl Stroud, Rose Allerston, Head of Sales & Marketing and Carly Chell, Senior Digital Account Director.
Rick Guttridge said: “We don’t do PR. We do creative storytelling that changes perceptions, creates publicity and moves the right people to action. Our new look clarifies this.
“The results this year are testament to the dedication and craft shown by every single one of the Guns. We have a clear vision and the team has bought into the project and our methods of working. This shows in the excellent work we’ve delivered for our clients.
“With our purposeful growth into new B2B and corporate areas, and a multitude of new account wins and appointments, we head into 2024 expecting to double the size of the business.”
