Button scoops Coventry and Warwickshire’s Professional of the Year

A LEADING light in the legal profession has been named as Coventry and Warwickshire’s Professional of the Year.

Nick Button, senior partner at Coventry-based Button Legal, scooped the top award during the fourth Coventry and Warwickshire First FirstPro Awards, which were held at the Ricoh Arena.

Around 260 people attended the FirstPro awards which celebrate the skill and expertise of professionals in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Mr Button founded Button Legal in 1988 and has just completed an active year which saw him serve as the president of the Warwickshire Law Society.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have won this. I think there’s huge potential and a huge talent in Coventry and Warwickshire and I hope events like the Coventry and Warwickshire First Pro Awards can help inspire the region’s professionals and give them something to aspire to,” he said.

The judging panel for the awards was made up by Daniel Gidney, CWLEP board member and chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, Ian Harrabin, of Complex Development Projects, and Phil Ewing, director at Harrison Beale & Owen and chairman of Coventry and Warwickshire First.

Mr Ewing said: “The standard of the nominees this year really underlined the diverse range of professional services on offer in Coventry and Warwickshire.”

The awards are divided into six categories with the Professional of the Year being chosen from the category winners.

Edward Laverick, of Restore IT Consultants, won the Business Services award, Tim Powell, University of Warwick Science Park’s Minerva Business Angels, took the Financial Services award, Mr Button also received the Legal Services award, Tom Bromwich, Bromwich Hardy, scooped the Property Services award, Lee Summers, Alumet, was named Sustainability Professional, and Michelle Vincent, HB&O, was selected as Young Professional of the Year.

Pictured are, from left: Host Stuart Linnell, Phil Ewing, chair of Coventry and Warwickshire First, event sponsor Susan Davies, Santander, Nick Button, Button Legal, and speaker Chris Hughes, Brand Events.

FBC Manby Bowdler establishes new Probate team

FBC Manby Bowdler has established a Contentious Probate team focussed on advising on claims against trusts, wills and estates.

Contentious Probate team leader, litigation partner Craig Ridge, said: “There are increasing numbers of challenges to the provision and validity of wills, as well as to inheritance settlements of people who died without a will.

“The high divorce rate, the prevalence of second and sometimes third marriages, civil partnerships, adopted children, people living longer and better recognition of dementia all make challenging wills and estates much more complex than before, and an area which the general legal practitioner is shying away from, hence the need for our specialists to focus on this type of work.”

Pictured are FBC Manby Bowdler’s new Contentious Probate team, from left: Margaret Rowe, Craig Ridge, Philip Cowell and Kim Carr.

Russell Jones & Walker in rude health with industrial disease expert

PERSONAL injury law firm Russell Jones & Walker has strengthened its industrial disease expertise with the recruitment of Peter Lodge from BPE Solicitors.

BPE transferred all personal injury clients to RJW in February this year and Mr Lodge will continue to work on some of the transferred cases.

Mr Lodge, pictured, who has over 25 years experience in the industry, will be based in RJW’s Birmingham office where he will continue to work with claimants in the South-West and Midlands.  

The BPE deal, which took three months to complete, was triggered by a strategic review by BPE. As a result, the firm opted to focus on its commercial practice.

Caoilionn Hurley, RJW’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are working on a number of these deals as an increasing number of firms choose to focus on their commercial work. The process is very straightforward and quick.”

Richard Langton, managing partner at RJW’s Birmingham office, added: “We are delighted to have Peter on board. His knowledge and experience are invaluable addition to the team. These can be some of the most serious and complicated cases we deal with so it is vital that people in the Midlands have access to first class legal advice on their doorstep.”