Appointments: Express Solicitors; Fairhursts; Birchall Blackburn

MANCHESTER personal injury law firm, Express Solicitors, has promoted Gavin Redman and Carole Jones to associate partners.

Mr Redman leads the sales and marketing department and Ms Jones the human resources department at the Northenden-based firm, which was granted ABS status on April 1 this year.

Managing partner James Maxey said:  “As part of our ABS status we can make up non-legal partners and it’s fantastic to be able to reward Gavin and Carole with a promotion for their hard work and expertise.  Both have been integral to the ongoing success of the firm as it grows in an increasingly competitive market and in what is a very difficult climate for the legal sector.

“For some time the firm’s strategy has been to develop a management board with top lawyers and professionals, in order to give it a more corporate governance structure.”

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FAIRHURSTS Design Group (FDG),  the firm of architects with offices in Manchester and Southampton, has promoted Alex Chanerley to associate director.

Mr Chanerley, who has been with the business for 20 years, has over 15 years’ experience of leading the design of complex technical projects including major science, university and office developments. Recent schemes comprise the Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty Business Park, the new Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, and Materials Innovation Factory at the University of Liverpool.

Fairhursts’ managing director Richard Sagar, said: “Alex is a hugely talented architect and we are extremely pleased that he has agreed to take on this new role.”

The firm has also made a number of other promotions in its Manchester team with Everard Bektashi Brown, Andy Smith, Paul Cox and Bunmi Lijadu becoming associates, while Pam Chapman has taken the role of executive associate. Nicola Rudman is now finance manager and Peter O’Brien IT manager.
 
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NORTH West legal practice Birchall Blackburn Law has appointed experienced HR professional Michelle Heywood as HR manager.
 
Mrs Heywood, from Hale, who has previously worked for Tesco and most recently RM Education, is based in the firm’s Manchester office on Kennedy Street and will cover its offices in Chester, Chorley, Formby, Leyland, Morecambe, Penwortham, Preston and Southport.
 
She said: “I am pleased and excited to join Birchall Blackburn Law, and to bring my broad experience in HR to the firm.  It has ongoing plans for strategic growth and its strong people culture and commitment to develop and retain talent really stood out for me.”