Legal news: Gateley; gunnercooke; Hillyer McKeown & more

THE Manchester office law firm Gateley has announced 15 promotions a month after it launched as an AIM-listed company.

Two lawyers were promoted to associate, 10 to senior associate and three were made legal directors.

The promotions span Gateley’s banking and finance, corporate, commercial, dispute resolution, corporate recovery, commerce, technology and media, construction, employment, pensions, planning and real estate teams.

Anjali Chadda, Gavin Clarke and Robert Lye have all become legal directors, while James Benson, Stephen Roberts, Jo Belmonte, Aneesh Prasad, Danielle Haston, Hayley Sullivan, Francesca Read, Mark Iveson, Rachel Baker and Abdul Salam have become senior associates.

Elizabeth Ebrahimi and Stephen Maynard have become associates.

Partner, Rod Waldie and head of Gateley Manchester office said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for us as we celebrate our fifth year in the Manchester market.  These promotions are thoroughly well deserved and each individual has played a pivotal role in the success of the firm to date.  
 
“One of the reasons behind our move to become a public company was to be able to provide a flexible and rewarding career structure for all our people and these 15 newly promoted lawyers are a shining example of what makes this company great.”

Gateley  shares started trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on June 8.  The company raised £30m as part of its listing on AIM and was valued at £100m on the first day of dealings.

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MANCHESTER law firm gunnercooke has provided legal advice to online knitwear retailer Wool Over, on its sale to private equity firm Langholm Capital.

Founded by Mark and Clare Shenton in 1989, Wool Overs has developed from a business selling cable-knit sweaters at country shows, to an international online retailer providing over 150 different styles of jumpers, sweaters and cardigans.

Based in West Sussex, Wool Overs has seen turnover increase to around £25m following 25% annual growth in each of the last two years. It supplies nearly 750,000 customers and has websites to cover markets including the USA, Australia, France and Germany – with one third of sales now generated overseas.

The team at gunnercooke, led by Matthew Searle, advised the shareholders on the transaction.

Matthew Searle, corporate partner at gunnercooke, said: “We have been working with the founders for a number of years to help them achieve their business objectives and we’re confident the business is set for further growth with its new owners.”

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MERSEYSIDE law firm Hillyer McKeown has become the second firm to lease space at the soon-to-be completed £5m renovated Tempest building in Liverpool.

The firm has leased 1,346sq ft from Manchester-based Capital & Centric, which bought the previously derelict building last year.

The revamp has included creating a new roof terrace, co-working space, a bar and restaurant space on the ground floor.

Some 3,500sp ft has already been taken by charity Launch22.

There are also a number of other tenants due to be announced shortly which will take the building to 40% let.

Adam Higgins, Co-founder of Capital & Centric Adam Higgins said: “We’re bringing new names to Liverpool from as close by as Wirral and as far as London, we’ve created a new concept in workspace for Liverpool, we’re happy to see that it’s captured the imagination of these new residents.”

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MANCHESTER-based law firm, Slater Heelis LLP, is laying the foundations for further success with the launch of its new construction team.

Ken Salmon joins Slater Heelis as a consultant in the new construction, engineering and projects team, having transferred from a similar consultancy role at Weightmans LLP.

He carries more than 40 years’ experience in both dispute and non-contentious construction, as well as in health and safety at work and other construction-related regulatory work.

Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales as well as in the Republic of Ireland, and a CIArb-accredited mediator, Salmon has a wealth of experience in conciliation techniques and procedures.

He is joined on the new team by Natalie Scott, who has been appointed as an associate in the construction team and litigation department. She also previously at Weightmans and, in her new role, will be offering specialist advice in the construction and IT sectors.

Natalie has more than 10 years’ experience advising in construction law and dealing with complex and specialist claims in the Technology and Construction Court.

Managing partner and commercial property lawyer at Slater Heelis, Anne Irwin, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new construction team, and to welcome both Ken and Natalie to the practice.

“In order to provide the highest level of service to our growing client base, and to ensure a sustained expansion of our service offering, we need the best people in place. We’re looking forward to seeing the new team thrive.”