Legal news: 18 promoted at JMW; Berg’s bank switch & more
JMW has announced 18 promotions, including a new equity partner, effective May 1.
Residential conveyancing expert and head of private client Andrew Garvie has been made up to equity partner after his team increased fee income from £500,000 to £2.6m this year.
Commercial property partner Thomas Pearson and personal injury partner Gordon Cartwright are to become fixed shared equity partners, the firm said.
In the firm’s cliniical negligence team, three senior associates are moving up to partner. They are: Angharad Hughes, Beth Reay and Melissa Gardner. Also in the team Steve Brown has been promoted to senior associate.
There have been six promotions to senior associate in other departments with Paul Burton (commercial property), Mark Heppell (corporate), (media) Nick McAleenan, Samantha Meakin (marketing department), Gianna Lisiecki-Cunane (family law) team and Abigail Morrison (personal injury) all moving up.
Six more promotions from solicitor to associate have been made too. They are for Eleanor Aguirre and Holly Tootill (family), Scott Ritchie (private client), Michelle Arathoon (personal injury), Sam Healey (business crime & regulation) and Julian Rogozinski (commercial property).
In addition to the promotions there have also been another 14 new recruits at JMW in the last three months taking the total headcount to over 280.
Senior partner Joy Kingsley said: “We congratulate all our newly appointed partners, senior associates and associates as these are hard earned promotions. This is an excellent start to what we hope will be another exciting year at JMW.”
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BERG, the Manchester law firm, has switched its banking to fast-growing lender Metro Bank.
The firm, which is championing alternative banking institutions through its work in representing businesses claiming to have been mis-sold interest rate swaps by the big banks, is also trying to woo Metro Bank to open its first office outside the South East in Manchester.
Senior partner Reuben Berg said: “From our experience in advising businesses throughout the UK, we know that there is a huge demand for alternative banking institutions which are untainted by mis-selling and wrong-doing.
“Berg’s culture of championing independent businesses resonates with Metro Bank’s passion for supporting grassroots businesses in a straightforward supportive manner. Being the first professional services firm in the North to bank with Metro is reflective of our commitment to providing innovative and independent solutions.
“I hope it will not be too long before Metro opens a branch in Manchester, providing an alternative option for businesses disenchanted with the status quo.”
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SOUTH Manchester firm MLP is reporting a a 15% year-on-year revenue increase across the business during the first quarter of 2015.
The Altrincham practice, which has recently opened offices in Liverpool and at MediaCity, says its employment law, corporate and commercial and property divisions are also growing particularly strongly.
Managing director Stephen Attree said: “Based on figures from the first quarter we are predicting that 2015 will be a record breaking year for us. With business booming in our two new offices, some great client wins and a big recruitment drive, the future is looking bright.”
