People on the move: Bromleys; Birchall Blackburn Law; PWA Planning; AlixPartners; Enterprise Tax Centre; Principal Insurance

LAW firm Bromleys has boosted its family team with the appointment of solicitor Jenna Atkinson.

She has joined the Tameside firm from the Chorley office of Forbes Solicitors, where she practised under her maiden name Jenna Bury.

Atkinson graduated at Newcastle University and then studied at the University of Law in Manchester. She trained at O’Donnells Solicitors in Preston.

The 27-year-old, who is from Bolton, specialises in advising clients on matters including divorce and separation, pre-nuptial agreements, civil partnership breakdown, children, and financial and property disputes.

Outside of work, she undertakes a variety of charity activities in support of The Christie, Bolton Hospice, Victim Support and Help for Heroes.

She said: “I’m delighted to join Bromleys as it’s a great place to work and has an ethos of providing high-quality client care with a friendly and professional approach.”

Bromleys partner and head of department Nicholas Clough said: “Jenna is a welcome addition to our growing team. She has a caring and understanding approach to dealing with sensitive matters and shares our culture of always putting our clients’ needs first.

“As someone from the Greater Manchester area, she understands the needs of local clients and her arrival helps to strengthen our family department.”

Jenna’s arrival takes overall staff numbers at Bromleys to 54.

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A NORTH West law firm has strengthened its personal injury team with the appointment of Emma Clarke.

Clarke, pictured, originally from Sheffield, joins the team at Birchall Blackburn Law as an assistant solicitor at its Manchester office.

The 28-year-old, graduated from the Sheffield Hallam University in 2010 after studying for a Business Law degree, she went on to train at Leeds-based Cohen Cramer while completing her Legal Practice Course in Manchester.

Clarke went on to gain experience working at Manchester-based Express Solicitors before joining Birchall Blackburn Law this summer where she will work in the serious and catastrophic injury team.

She is also on the board for the Manchester Young Solicitors Group, acting as the online communications and social media director.

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PLANNING consultancy PWA Planning has appointed experienced chartered town planner Louise Leyland to its growing team.

Leyland, pictured, joins Preston-based PWA from environmental planning consultancy Stephenson Halliday in Kendal.

She will bring her experience of project-managing environmental impact assessments for large scale development projects to the practice.

Paul Walton, a director of PWA Planning, said: “After more than 10 years in various planning roles, Louise has built up a great deal of technical knowledge. Her appointment adds to our capacity to deal with those larger and more complex planning applications that require detailed public consultation and negotiation with public bodies.”

Leyland added: “PWA Planning is a practice that’s on the up. It has some great clients and is working on exciting development projects across the region. It’s great to be on board.”

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ALIXPARTNERS has appointed Liz Mackay as managing director to lead the firm’s turnaround and restructuring services (TRS) practice in Manchester.

Mackay, pictured, moves to Manchester from AlixPartners’ Glasgow office where she served as the managing director for the firm’s TRS activities in Scotland.

Mackay will also assume responsibility for coordinating AlixPartners’ TRS business outside of London working alongside our teams in Birmingham and Glasgow.

With more 25 years’ experience helping businesses and their stakeholders contend with strategic, financial and operational challenges Mackay brings a wealth of knowledge allied to a well-deserved reputation for delivering pragmatic commercial solutions and excellent client service.
 
Alastair Beveridge, UK head of TRS for AlixPartners, said: “Liz is a highly respected and extremely effective restructuring professional and this move is reflective of her skills as a practitioner and business leader.”

Mackay said: “I’m greatly excited by the opportunity this move affords, Manchester continues to grow as an economic powerhouse and is the perfect location for our regional operations throughout the North of England and beyond.”

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A SPECIALIST tax advisory firm has recruited Sharon Collier to its team.

Collier, pictured, has joined Enterprise Tax Centre, which has its head office in Lymm, Cheshire.

ETC works with other professional firms, including accountants and lawyers, to provide them with a range of tax services.

Collier has more than 25 years’ experience in tax and the wider financial services sector in the UK and Malta.

She is a chartered tax advisor and a qualified trust and estate practitioner. Her previous firms include PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG.

Andy Wood, founder and director of ETC, said: “Sharon brings with her a wealth of experience and her knowledge will be a real asset to our clients.”

ETC’s specialist tax advice covers a number of areas including the structuring of businesses, inheritance tax and estate planning, capital gains tax, property tax advice and international families and non-UK residents.

In addition to its office in Lymm, ETC has a second office in London.

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REGIONAL accountancy firm Moore and Smalley has brought in an experienced former Merseyside banking professional as it targets client growth in the region.

The firm, which last year reported record fee income of £14.2m, has recruited Andy Webster who recently left RBS after 34 years, including 20 years based in Liverpool city centre.

Webster, who was a relationship director with the bank and supported customers in the SME market, will work with the team at Moore and Smalley’s Southport office as a business development consultant.

Moore and Smalley expanded into Southport after acquiring Hollows Davies Crane in April 2014. The firm also has offices in Preston, Blackpool, Lancaster, Kendal and Nottingham.

Webster, who lives in Southport, said: “After three and a half decades working with businesses in the area, this is a patch I know very well. Over the last few years I had a specialised role supporting professionals in the legal sector across Liverpool, the Wirral and Southport.

“I know many professional firms and local businesses that could benefit from Moore and Smalley’s approach and I’m looking forward to supporting the firm’s growth strategy in this part of the world.”

James Treadwell, partner at Moore and Smalley’s Southport office, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response we’ve had from the professional and business community in Southport these last two years.
 
“Our growth here has been based on offering honest, trusted and added-value advice to our clients. We believe there is great potential to continue this growth and Andy’s knowledge and relationships will be integral to this.”

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PRINCIPAL Insurance has recruited highly experienced industry executive David Hiley, pictured, as the group’s first chief operating officer.

The new role has been created to ensure the Manchester-headquartered group has the corporate structures and policies in place to effectively manage its rapid growth.

In its last financial year (ended October 31 2015) the specialist insurance group saw its gross written premium (GWP) grow by 50% to hit £5m. That figure is forecast to breach £10m this financial year.

Principal has just relocated its HQ in anticipation of a significant staff growth. It expects to more than double its Manchester head count over the next two years, creating 40 new jobs. The group is also set to expand its specialist motor broking operation in Lancaster and Dublin offices.

Hiley brings extensive experience to the new role. He has spent more than 35 years in the insurance industry and has previously lead operations departments at Avertis Group and Destiny Legal Services.