Appointments: Pinsent Masons; Morecrofts; Close Brothers Invoice Finance
LAW firm Pinsent Masons has expanded its commercial and technology group in Manchester, taking two from DLA Piper.
It has appointed Claire Edwards as legal director and Gillian Spencer as a senior solicitor.
Edwards has expertise in IT, digital and data protection compliance matters as well as acting on major commercial projects within the private and public sectors. Spencer specialises in commercial contracts, procurement, IT and data protection and exploitation.
Samantha Livesey, partner and head of the commercial and technology group, said: “Their impressive track record of advising on commercial and technology matters across the NW region, nationally and internationally plus specialist sector knowledge perfectly complements the expertise within our existing team as we continue to expand this area of our practice.”
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MORECROFTS Solicitors has appointed the first non-legal partner in its 200-year history.
It has promoted David Parr, who has led the Liverpool firm’s four-strong finance team since joining the business at the end of 2011.
The move follows the granting of Alternative Business Structure (ABS) status under the Legal Services Act, a change that allows non-lawyers to become equity partners for the first time.
Managing partner Alison Lobb said: “I am delighted that we have successfully applied to become an ABS and that David has therefore been able to accept our invitation to join the partnership. This is an exciting step forward that enables us to build and invigorate our business for the future by bringing David’s financial and business development expertise to our existing partnership board.”
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CLOSE Brothers Invoice Finance has appointed Ashley Middleton as regional sales director at the Manchester office.
He has already held the positions of client manager and client executive at the firm.
He will be responsible for developing and generating business across Manchester, Stoke, Crewe, Nottingham and Derby.
“This is a great opportunity and I’ve been working towards the role for some time,” said Middleton.
