People: MSB Solicitors; Avison Young; H&H Group; Kings Chambers; Infinity; Petal & Co
North West law firm MSB Solicitors has expanded and bolstered its Family Law team with the appointment of Rachael Banks, who joins as a Barrister.
With a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years, including nine years at St John’s Buildings Chambers, Rachael brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team.
Her focus lies in assisting clients with divorce, relationship breakdown and all aspects relating to the separation of couples. She also represents families involved with public law proceedings.
Ms Banks said: “My decision to join MSB was motivated by the exciting opportunities the firm offers. Having worked closely with the business for many years, I’m so excited to take on new challenges and contribute to a dynamic and thriving organisation.”
Emma Carey, Managing Partner at MSB Solicitors, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rachael Banks to our team of skilled advocates. Her extensive experience and passion for family law make her a valuable addition to our firm. We are confident that Rachael will drive positive outcomes for our clients and contribute significantly to our continued success.”
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Chris Ward
Global commercial real estate firm, Avison Young, has appointed Chris Ward as Capital Markets Director in its Manchester office. Ward arrives at the firm with more than a decade of experience working in national capital markets.
Prior to taking up his new post he spent 12 years at Colliers, the consultancy he joined as a graduate surveyor in 2011 and where he most recently served as an Associate Director in the Capital Markets team in Manchester.
As part of Avison Young’s regional investment department, Ward will be taking a North West focus, working alongside the firm’s investment, sector and consultancy teams to support the ambitions of both regional and national investment clients.
Ward is now the third dedicated Capital Markets professional in Avison Young’s Manchester office, and will be working closely with colleagues David Winterbottom, Principal, and Beth Newman, Surveyor.
Mark Frampton, Principal, Capital Markets at Avison Young UK, said: “It’s great to welcome Chris to the team at a time of significant opportunity. This marks a positive start to the year, as we look to further grow our investment teams across the UK, with a focus on Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh, and complements the recent appointment of Scott Mitchell, director of retail investment, based in London.”
Barry Crichton, Regional Managing Director for Manchester at Avison Young UK, said: “We’re very pleased to be bringing Chris on board in Manchester. It’s an exciting time for the firm and the office, with ambitious plans for growth under way. Regional investment is a crucial part of our wider strategy, and Chris’s appointment will certainly help to support our goal of delivering real value to our clients.”
Chris Ward said: “With a host of projects under way in Manchester and the wider North West region, I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with new colleagues and playing my part as we drive forward our vision for the future.”
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Karl Stout
Carlisle-based H&H Group has appointed Karl Stout as Facilities Manager for Harrison & Hetherington and will be based at the company’s head office at Borderway Mart. He will work across all of the H&H auction marts based in the North of England and the Borders.
Karl joins H&H after 14 years working with Amey\Urbaser, most recently as an Operations and People Manager, working in partnership with Eden District Council to oversee the smooth running of the municipal contract.
Group CEO, Richard Rankin, said: “Agriculture is going through a period of profound change at this time, and this makes it even more critical for our livestock trading services to offer our customers the best of both traditional support and the latest in technology and facilities when buying and selling with us. Karl’s professional expertise and track record, and his experience and understanding of the nature of our business makes him the perfect fit for us.”
Karl said. “I have always been involved in agriculture and I visited Borderway many times when I was a boy. In the past I used to keep about 30 Texels so I have been on the other side of the Farmstock fence as well.”
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Eleanor Temple
Manchester-based Kings Chambers has announced that two of its highly respected barristers are set to be appointed as King’s Counsel.
Ruth Stockley and Eleanor Temple will officially be sworn in at a ceremony in London in March, taking the total number of KCs at Kings Chambers to 28.
This follows a rigorous process for selection in demonstrating outstanding ability and excellence in advocacy.
A member of the Planning team, Ruth specialises in all aspects of town and country planning, infrastructure, environmental law, compulsory purchase, highways, road traffic regulation, village greens, and judicial review. Widely respected as one of the leading authorities on highways in the UK, Ruth was called to the bar in 1988.
Ruth Stockley
Eleanor Temple is an expert in commercial litigation for both domestic and international clients, with focus areas including insolvency, company law, partnership actions, banking and finance, civil fraud, and contract disputes. Taking the call in 2000, Eleanor serves as the chair of insolvency trade association R3 for the Yorkshire region and also regularly sits as a Civil Recorder on the North Eastern Circuit.
Andrew Singer KC, Head of Chambers, said: “Both Ruth and Eleanor are a credit to the profession and thoroughly deserve their appointments as KCs. The appointments rightly mark their respective expertise and excellence.”
Kings Chambers operates out of chambers in Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, and is ranked as one of the country’s leading sets.
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Raj Dass
Global call and speech analytics platform, Infinity, has appointed Raj Dass as Chief Commercial Officer.
Raj will support Manchester-based Infinity’s growth plans by supporting retention, acquisition, and the development of relationships with strategic partners in the contact centre, technology, and media spaces.
He said: “I am thrilled to be joining Infinity at such an exciting time in its development. Throughout my career, I’ve helped many enterprises realise growth through telecommunication-related business transformation.
“Having spent time using Infinity’s newest tools, I’m excited to help put them in the hands of many more leaders and empower them to make better business decisions when it comes to engaging customers, enhancing commercial performance, and delivering better experiences for their teams and customers.”
CEO, Warren Newbert, said: “His depth of experience and passion will be an enormous asset as we continue to grow and bolster our talented team at Infinity. I’m sure he will play an instrumental role in helping more business leaders adopt and benefit from the award winning tools in the Infinity platform.”
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Barry Maginn and Sarah Suthers
Specialist corporate and B2B communications agency, Petal & Co, has appointed Barry Maginn as strategy director.
With almost 15 years’ experience in B2B communications, Maginn has spearheaded teams in prominent agencies throughout the North West and London. Previously B2B Business Director at Manchester-based Tangerine Communications, his achievements include the expansion of B2B divisions and development of cutting edge client services and campaigns that consistently outpace the fast-evolving B2B communications landscape.
In the newly-created strategy director role, Maginn is responsible for guiding Petal & Co through its next growth phase and adding strategic weight to the agency’s offering, supporting its goal to exceed client expectations and deliver best-in-class work. He will help to evolve the agency’s brand, enhance visibility and engage business owners.
Founder, Jessica Wilkinson, said: “We’ve grown consistently every year and we’re really proud to have built long standing relationships with clients we love working with. We’re now investing in the team to make sure our best work is yet to come.”
Maginn said: “Joining Petal & Co at this pivotal time is a fantastic opportunity. After some impressive growth, based largely on the agency’s strong reputation and referrals, we’re now in a position to be much more proactive with the next phase of our expansion and development.”
Maginn’s appointment to the Manchester office follows on from the hire of Sarah Suthers as PR Account Director in 2023. Prior to joining Petal & Co, Suthers spent 11 years at Stein IAS.
