People: Kennedys; Morecrofts; Miller Homes; MJ Goldman; SRL Traffic Systems; SAS Daniels Solicitors; Davis Blank Furniss
Global law firm Kennedys has appointed Judith Martin as a partner in Manchester.
Judith has specialised in disease litigation for 25 years, the last 10 of which have been at Clyde & Co where she helped to set up and develop the disease team.
She has handled a broad range of employers’ liability cases relating to exposure to asbestos and other harmful substances. Judith also has a particular interest in stress, bullying and harassment claims.
Claire Mulligan, partner and head of Kennedys’ UK liability defence group, said: “Judith is a leading name in the legacy claims market and her knowledge and expertise will greatly benefit our clients.”
Judith will be based out of Kennedys’ office in Trinity building on John Dalton Street in Manchester city centre.
The firm now has more than 2,500 staff worldwide, operating across 21 countries with 76 offices, associate offices and co-operations.
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Vicki Morris
Morecrofts Solicitors has promoted three senior associate solicitors within its private client and litigation teams.
Vicki Morris and Michael Gossage, who both completed their training contracts with Morecrofts earlier in their careers, join highly experienced litigation specialist Derek Dawson, who joined the firm in 2017, in stepping up to the new role.
Liverpool-based Morecrofts also said all three of its recently qualified solicitors have accepted roles within the firm. Aaron Ocquaye qualifies into the personal injury & clinical negligence team in Liverpool city centre, Hannah Beardmore joins the family law team in Wirral and Josh Bourke qualifies into private client, based at the firm’s Woolton office.
Costs draftsperson, Katie Ward, has been promoted to manager of the firm’s thriving fee unit.
Meanwhile, Faye Kavanagh and Freja Hopwood are set to begin their training contracts in the private client and family law teams, respectively.
Last year, Morecrofts created a new management training programme aimed at equipping lawyers with wider business skills such as finance, HR and compliance, and providing clear senior pathways of succession within the business.
Managing partner, Alison Lobb, said: “Vicki, Michael and Derek have each played a significant role in the continued success of our business, both in financial terms and the quality of our service delivery to clients.
“These latest senior promotions offer further evidence of our commitment to helping excellent lawyers to achieve their professional ambitions with us and gain the experience and expertise needed to take the business forward into the future.”
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Stuart Craig
Miller Homes has appointed Stuart Craig as its new Regional Managing Director for the North West.
The appointment comes as the firm goes from strength to strength in the region, adding new developments in Widnes, Timperley and Coppull.
Based at the North West team’s headquarters at Birchwood Park in Warrington, Stuart has strong housebuilder credentials having spent the past two years as Regional Managing Director for Tilia Homes, Northern region. Prior to that he spent 12 years at Taylor Wimpey in various Director roles.
Chief Executive, Stewart Lynes, said: “Stuart has worked in and around the region throughout his career and has a proven track record in the sector. We are very much looking forward to the opportunities ahead as we look to expand our presence in the region and grow our reputation as a quality homebuilder that customers can trust and rely on.”
The appointment comes as Miller Homes extends its presence in the region, with developments across Burnley, Widnes, Altringham, Halewood, and South Manchester. The homebuilder has recently launched its flagship development, Varsity Quarter in Northenden, transforming the old Manchester College site into new homes.
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Lauren McKiernan
Manchester based accountancy and advisory firm MJ Goldman has appointed Lauren McKiernan as Associate Director.
Lauren joins from national firm DJH Mitten Clarke and will support the existing directors across all operations of the business, specialising in dealing with owner-managed small and medium sized businesses.
Director Richard Hunter said: “I have known Lauren for many years. She is well trusted by her clients for providing commercial business advice and financial solutions that aid them in growing their businesses.
“She joins us towards the end of our five-year plan that will have seen us double the size of our business and Lauren will play an important part in setting the new five-year growth plan.”
He added: “Part of our strategy has been to devolve more power to our teams and give them the autonomy to make day-to-day decisions. Lauren will play an important role as the link between the wider team and board of directors to help smooth the decision making process.”
Also joining MJ Goldman is Hafsa Javed who will take the role of Client Accountant.
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Mark Eburne
Winsford company, SRL Traffic Systems, a manufacturer and supplier of mobile ITS (intelligent transport system) solutions to the UK and European traffic management, local authorities, utilities, and construction sectors, has appointed Mark Eburne as chief executive.
The seasoned CEO has 25 years’ senior leadership experience and has worked extensively throughout the utilities, hire and construction sectors.
He will bring considerable commercial expertise, which will be beneficial to the Cheshire company as it continues its growth journey.
He joined SRL on April 29, from tool, fixings and building supplies retailer, FFX Group, where he was CEO.
Eburne will lead SRL as it embarks on the next stage of its ambitious growth strategy.
He said: “I am joining SRL at an extremely exciting point in its development and look forward to working with its team to elevate the company to the next level. SRL has tremendous growth potential, with passionate and hard working people, a market leading and unique customer service offering, exceptional products, and strong investor support from 3i Infrastructure.”
SRL’s executive chairman, Richard Tredwin, said: “Mark is a highly experienced CEO with a strong track record of the kind of decisive, engaging leadership that will drive SRL forward.”
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Top row: Keira Golds, Liam Millard, Rakhsana Noreen, Alexandra Campbell, Brandon Doyle. Bottom row : Kayleigh Smith, Pauline Dewsnip, Teejay Murphy
North West law firm, SAS Daniels Solicitors, has announced 12 recent appointments strengthening the team across all four of its Cheshire offices.
The residential property department has been bolstered, welcoming experienced conveyancer Rakhsana Noreen as a solicitor in the Stockport office and four conveyancing assistants across the firm. Kayleigh Smith and Alexandra Campbell have joined the Stockport office, Fahmida Mustafa is now part of the team in Chester, and Emma Sandford-Jones has been appointed in Macclesfield.
In the Stockport office, the team has expanded considerably. Keira Golds has joined the business as a paralegal in the corporate team, alongside Liam Millard as an apprentice in the probate team.
Teejay Murphy has taken up the position of legal cashier in the finance department and Brandon Doyle starts in the newly-created role of compliance and archivist assistant.
Further cementing the firm’s commitment to the development of its people, Pauline Dewsnip has been recruited as a receptionist administrator, following an internal move for her predecessor Rachel Shaw who has transferred to an HR assistant role.
At the firm’s Congleton office, Louise Rose has been appointed as a legal secretary working with the corporate and private client teams and Alina Buriak has started as receptionist administrator.
Chief executive, Jeremy Orrell, said: “With the business continuing to experience substantial growth, it is a pleasure to bolster our team of industry experts. As we welcome 12 new individuals to the firm, each bringing a wealth of passion and expertise, we are confident that this will greatly benefit our clients.”
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Lawrence Bowles and Lauren Sever
Manchester- and Glossop-based law firm, Davis Blank Furniss, has promoted Lauren Sever to partner in its Commercial, Corporate and Employment team.
Lauren joined the firm as a paralegal in March 2017, initially in the Personal Injury team followed by a two-year training contract. On qualification in September 2019, she then moved across to the Commercial, Corporate and Employment Department. She was promoted to associate solicitor in 2022 and to senior associate solicitor last year.
Lauren focuses on a variety of core matters including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder agreements, commercial agreements, sales and purchases of businesses, company re-organisations, and corporate assistance.
Richard Hamilton, managing partner, said: “Lauren is a highly talented lawyer who has, over the years, become an integral part of the team. This promotion is much deserved and is a recognition of the value she adds.”
Lauren said: “Over the past seven years, the firm has supported my ambitions and I am delighted to now be a partner. My focus moving forward will be on delivering for our clients and helping to grow the department’s reach across the North West.”
Davis Blank Furniss has also appointed Lawrence Bowles as a solicitor in its Commercial Property team. Lawrence started his legal career as a paralegal at SO Legal in East Sussex. He joins Davis Blank Furniss from Whitehead Monckton which is based in Kent. Lawrence studied for a BSc in Criminology & Psychology at the University of Greenwich, he then completed a Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Sussex, followed by a Master’s Degree (LLM) alongside his Legal Practice Course at The University of Law.
Lawrence said: “Relocating to Manchester was a big move so I wanted to work with a collaborative team that put clients at the heart of everything it does. Davis Blank Furniss has established itself as one of the North West’s leading firms so I’m now looking forward to drawing on its professionalism, expertise and the personal service it is famous for.”
