Appointments: Exchange Chambers; Freeman & Co & more

BARRISTERS’ chambers Exchange Chambers has hired former Brabners partner Jonathan I’Anson as its new practice manager.

l’Anson  replaces Exchange’s current practice manager Roy Finney who retires
in July.

Exchange Chambers has more than 150 members, including 13 QCs and has
offices in Liverpool and Manchester.

Tom Handley, director of chambers said: “Practice manager is an important
role within Chambers and Jonathan has the skills and experience to make a
huge success of it. As a partner at his previous firm, Jonathan understands the
legal services industry and in particular the needs of solicitors.

“He brings with him a strong private practice performance culture which will
help us to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.  Bringing in a partner
from a large corporate law firm is a good fit for us and demonstrates
Chambers’ progressive intent.”

I’Anson added: “This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the
management of a modern legal services business.  The legal services industry is in a period of significant change but that also presents great opportunity. Exchange Chambers is ideally placed to excel in the new landscape and I’m looking forward to working with the team. ” 

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MANCHESTER-based motoring law and white collar crime specialist Freeman
& Co has boosted its team with the appointment of Edward Atkinson.

Atkinson, described as an “accomplished Higher Court Advocate” joins amid
record numbers of instructions at the firm.

While founder Nick Freeman – who has represented the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson – is best known as ‘Mr Loophole’ – a top motoring law specialist, his practice is seeing a sharp rise in the number of “white collar” and serious crimes it is being instructed to defend clients on.

Freeman said: “The skills Ed brings to Freeman & Co are a real asset,
particularly as we are being asked to advise a growing number of clients
charged with white collar and serious crime.”

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THE former chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society has been confirmed as the new chairman of banking group Shawbrook, four years after he left the lender.

The announcement of Iain Cornish’s appointment as chairman had been expected after the challenger bank announced in April that Sir George Mathewson was to step down, just days after Mr Cornish had resigned his position on the board of the Prudential Regulation Authority.

The handover is effective immediately, with Sir George leaving Shawbrook’s board.

Mr Cornish, who is a non-executive of Manchester-based debt purchaser Arrow Global,  said he was “honoured” to be joining the bank “at such an exciting stage in its development”.

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APPLETHWAITE, the residential division of the Eric Wright Group, is set to expand following the appointment of several members of staff, including a director.

Colin Hetherington, a chartered surveyor, whose housing career spans 19 years, including senior management positions at firms including Taylor Woodrow, McInerney Homes and Antler Homes, has taken over from former director, Mike Henry, who recently retired.

Having operated from its base in Cumbria, for 11 years, the business has been brought into the Eric Wright fold and will be managed from the group’s headquarters at Bamber Bridge, Preston.

Hetherington said: “Housing is a subject that is always high on the news agenda, as well as being a key focus for the new government. I have been working as a consultant for Applethwaite, creating a new range of house types and securing development sites.”

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HOUSING developer Mulbury Homes has bolstered its technical expertise with the appointment of Lorna Senior.

She joins Lymm-based Mulbury Homes as engineering manager from Keepmoat Homes where she procured and managed engineering elements across its sites.

Senior has more than 10 years’ experience at a range of national housebuilders including Bellway Homes and Miller Homes.

Senior said: “Mulbury Homes is a flourishing housing developer so I was keen to get on board and take on a new challenge. I’m enjoying the diverse workload of the role so far and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.”