Legal news: Lund Bennett opens second base; JMW challenges rivals & more
LAW firm Lund Bennett Law has opened a second office, in the city centre, after its launch in 2012 in Altrincham.
The firm, which specialises in family law, has taken office space in Mynshulls House on Cateaton Street near Manchester Cathedral.
Founding partners Sharon Lund and Kirsten Bennett say the launch of the new Family Court in Spinningfields this year as well as a desire to build closer ties with other professionals in the city has prompted the expansion. The firm is retaining its original office on Market Street in Altrincham.
Kirsten Bennett said: “Our new office in Manchester enables us to be close to the Family Courts building in Spinningfields. The new system of family law proceedings means that magistrates, solicitors and judges are able to work more closely together. A physical presence near the new Family Court means we can provide a more seamless service with better continuity and management of cases.”
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MANCHESTER law firm JMW has thrown down the gauntlet to rival firms after 13 partners took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge in aid of Macmillan.
The firm, which raised more than £1,000 for the cancer charity, nominated the Manchester offices of Shoosmith’s, Slater & Gordon and DWF to be the next to take on the popular challenge.
The interip 13 partners who got soaked were: Richard Parkinson (head of commercial) , Andrew Farrell (head of commercial litigation), Alison Parry (commercial litigation), Thomas Pearson (commercial property), Marc Yaffe (commercial litigation), Chris Sutton (joint head of personal injury), Rachael Guy (associate and training manager), Ged Chadwick (director of IT), James Brown (family law), Mark Jones (commercial litigation), Matthew Whyatt (corporate recovery and insolvency), Michael Purvis (conveyancing) and Bill Jones (chairman).
Partner and head of CSR at JMW, Elaine Roche said: “When Macmillan approached us about taking part in the ice bucket challenge to raise money, the CSR committee was not sure what the uptake among our partners would be. We are very grateful to everyone that took part but also those who donated so generously. We hope this will contribute to a very successful year of fundraising in aid of Macmillan.”
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LIVERPOOL, Manchester and Preston firm Brabners has combined its employment and pensions teams.
The firm said the move was in response to an increasing trend of employers seeking combined employment and pensions law advice.
A number of changes to legislation including the introduction of the auto enrolment regime, the abolition of the default retirement age and issues relating to the flexible retirement of staff often require legal advice in both an employment and pensions context.
Brabners’ employment law team is one of the largest in the North West, with over 20 solicitors across its offices. The combination brings pensions partner Elizabeth Graham and associate Philip Woolham into the enlarged team.
Managing partner Mark Brandwood said: “Combining the departments strengthens the employment and pensions team and enables us to provide a seamless and supportive offering to our clients.”
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SHOOSMITHS has become the first top 40 legal firm to be accredited with the Investors in People (IIP) gold standard for a second time. The award is based on what Shoosmiths staff say and feel about working at the firm. Just 7% of all UK businesses have been re-awarded the gold standard which involves a rigorous nine-day assessment.
Assessors spoke with both legal and non-legal staff around the business, which has 10 offices, including Manchester, and 1,400 staff across the UK.
Lead assessor John Waldon said: “The assessment team received complete courtesy and helpfulness from everyone we came into contact with: we found Shoosmiths to be a culture where people take responsibility to move situations forward.”
