People on the move: Your Legal Friend; Abrams Ashton; Danbro; Eddisons

YOUR Legal Friend, the law firm which is pursuing a high-profile group litigation order against Watchstone Group – formerly known as Quindell – has appointed Claire Critchley to head up its new financial, property, and professional claims team.

The Merseyside-based firm has created the 15-strong specialist department as part of an ongoing growth strategy focused on building its capabilities in key specialist fields.

Critchley has more than a decade’s experience in professional negligence, commercial litigation and financial recoveries and has previously practiced at Halliwells, HL Interactive, Myerson and Robinson Way.

Her new role will include leading on significant cases including the pursuit of a group litigation order in relation to a £1.5m property investment case.

Critchley’s appointment is the latest in a number of senior hires the Merseyside firm has made over the last 18 months.

Colin Gibson, chief operating officer at Your Legal Friend, said: “Our investment in this new team demonstrates our commitment to ensuring clients receive the highest level of service in complex areas of litigation.

“Claire is highly experienced with a fantastic track record of success, so she’s perfect to lead a talented team who are progressing a wide variety of high-value cases. 
 
Founded in 1983, the Merseyside-headquartered business employs 240 people and has supported around 200,000 clients over the last 30 years.

::

CHORLEY-based Abrams Ashton has recruited three new team members to accommodate growing demand for its accountancy and payroll services.

Jennifer Stacey joins as payroll clerk and brings more than 14 years’ bureau and in-house experience. Bolstering the fast growing department, she will be responsible for payroll administration for a range of clients across the county.

Two semi-senior accountants also join the firm, with Stuart Benfold and Josh Rainford handling accounts preparation, tax and VAT returns and client enquiries.

 o Ecob, director at Abrams Ashton, said: “The surge in demand for our services is testament to the high levels of experience our staff offer.

“Helping our clients to achieve business growth and commercial success is at the heart of everything we do, so the addition of Jennifer, Stuart and Josh and the experience they bring, mean that we’re even better placed to serve a growing number of businesses across the region.”

::

LYTHAM St Annes-based accountancy firm Danbro has appointed a new director of employment services, as the business targets growth in the construction sector.

James Burrows, who is also a former client of Danbro, has joined the Lancashire firm to help grow the part of the business which offers employment services to contractors, outsourced payroll solutions to businesses, and a construction industry scheme offering to sub-contractors.

With a 10-year career in construction, Burrows is well-placed to lead the division of Danbro that is targeting the construction industry.

He said: “I’ve been self-employed and I’ve worked in a variety of roles across the construction sector. I understand how the sector operates and I’ll be working with my team to develop a suite of solutions for contractors, subcontractors and recruitment agencies.”

Damian Broughton, executive chairman at Danbro said: “James brings a wealth of experience and he has challenged us to deliver even more for our clients. We’re delighted to welcome him to the business and we are excited to work with James to grow the Employment Services Business.”

::

PROPERTY consultant Eddisons has boosted its Yorkshire and Manchester teams with two new appointments and three promotions.

In the firm’s Manchester valuations division, Philip Deakin has been appointed as director.

Joining the firm from property agent JLL, where he specialised in mid-to-large commercial property assets, Deakin has acted on behalf of all major UK lenders and for large property companies and funds including Hunter Real Estate Investment Management, ING, Valad, Peel Holdings and HIMOR.

He has valued some high profile North West properties, among them Port Salford, Carrington Business Park, Ship Canal House and Exchange Quay.

Also joining Eddisons is Ian Appleby, who has spent the past 40 years at RBS in Eddisons’ Leeds office. Appleby’s newly created role will be to support and develop the firm’s bank relationships across the North.

Within the firm, Steven Jones has been promoted to director in Eddisons’ agency division, while associate director David Cran moves from Manchester to Leeds to help drive bank and private client valuation work across Yorkshire.

Kristan Love has also been promoted to associate director in Eddisons’ property management team in Manchester.