People: Anthony Collins Solicitors; Geens Chartered Accountants; Manahatta
Helen Tucker has been appointed a deputy district judge (DDJ) for the Midlands Circuit.
Tucker, who is a partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS), will start sitting part-time in county courts in the Midlands’ circuit from early 2022.
DDJs deal with a wide spectrum of civil cases, including housing, personal injury, claims for money, divorce and domestic violence matters.
Tucker will remain an active partner in ACS’s housing management team, co-leading the social purpose law firm’s housing litigation service supporting housing associations and local authorities in the delivery of their housing management operations.
Tucker follows in the footsteps of Rankeshwar Batta, partner who is currently a deputy district judge on the North West Circuit and Sarah Huntbach, senior associate who sits as an assistant coroner.
Tucker said: “I’m hugely honoured to be appointed as a deputy district judge for the Midlands Circuit. I’m looking forward to drawing on the experience I’ve gained at ACS over the years and learning a great deal more in this new role.”
Geens’ new starters
A growing Staffordshire based accountancy practice has increased its staff by almost a quarter inside five months.
Geens Chartered Accountants have welcomed seven new staff members to their offices in Liverpool Road, Stoke, since March, 2021.
The new recruits include two new trainee Chartered Accountants, Kelly Robinson and Ruby Whilock and an accountancy apprentice, Theepikan Nagulendran,
Aziz Ravasia has also joined Geens as an auditor, together with accountant Hollie Wiles, payroll manager Julie Briscoe and office administrator, Helen Wilshaw.
Geens Chartered Accountants is one of the oldest firms in North Staffordshire and can trace its history back to 1884.
“It’s always good to be able to offer new, young talent an opportunity to build a career and we see this as one of the hallmarks here at Geens,” said director Chris Beeston.
“We have four directors and all have come through the ranks at Geens and now we are offering that opportunity to young professionals such as Theepikan, Kelly and Ruby.”
Matt Sharp has been announced as general manager of the new Manahatta due to open in Birmingham next month.
After previously working at the Gin Vault for over a decade, Sharp will now be looking after a team of 70 people at the new Temple Street venue.
The team are now in final preparations of the site build and recruitment drive as they prepare for their official launch in mid-October.
