People: Patent firm welcomes raft of trainees; New head of cyber and innovation for the Cyber Resilience Centre; and more

A patent and trade mark firm has recruited eight trainees.

The trainees are working at the firm’s Birmingham, London and Munich offices.

At the Birmingham office are trainee patent attorneys Thomas Heath, Dr Robert Paul and Callum Watson, who have all joined the firm’s technology and engineering team.

Among those mentoring the new trainees is Dr Nick Palmer, who joined the firm 13 years ago as a trainee patent attorney.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome Callum, Robert and Thomas at what is an exciting time for Forresters as the firm continues to go from strength to strength. Our trainee programme attracts talented individuals and it’s not surprising that many of our associates and partners started at the firm as trainees.”

Senior associate Dr Emma Palmer said: “We always want our trainees to have the best experience possible during their training and this is one of the reasons why they are involved in a wide variety of work and are considered a vital part of the team they join.”

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Detective inspector Michelle Ohren has joined as head of cyber and innovation for the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands, taking the reins from Hinesh Mehta who has taken on a role within the regional cyber crime unit for West Midlands Police.

Ohren joins the team from her previous role within West Midlands Police where she is the deputy senior investigating officer for the UK’s largest human trafficking investigation.

Ohren, said: “I’m thrilled to have joined the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands. With 39% of businesses falling victim to cybercrime in the last 12 months, there has never been a more prominent time for businesses to seek guidance and help to improve their cyber security.

“The team has worked incredibly hard since the centre’s launch last year in helping local businesses understand more about the threats they face and help them get better protected. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with the WMCRC and reaching more businesses as the centre goes into its second year of business.”

The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands (WMCRC) is one of nine centres that have been established across the country to provide businesses and organisations, with an affordable way to access cyber security services and guidance to help protect themselves from attack.

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Pennycuick Collins’ rapid growth has continued throughout this year, prompting multiple promotions across its service charge team with
four property administrators being promoted to assistant property manager.

Megan Lambert, Katie Kerrigan, Felicity Smith and Alice Topple have all been promoted to assistant property managers.

Lyndsey Cannon-Leach, director and head of the residential service charge team, said: “It has been a most challenging year for many people working between home and the office and each team member with the service charge department has risen to the challenge. I am pleased that we are able to recognise the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Alice, Felicity, Katie and Megan in these promotions, but also that of the team which has continued to go from strength to strength through new appointments including growth in new areas which have made these new positions possible.”

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A Birmingham-based lawyer is retiring from practice after a 50 years in which time he helped secure compensation for hundreds of West Midlands families affected by asbestos diseases.

Dave Fisher will step down as senior supervisor for asbestos claims at social justice law firm Thompsons Solicitors, following five decades of fighting for those suffering from industrial diseases such as mesothelioma.

Fisher started his career in 1971 at union law firm F A Greenwood & Co. Within a year he was involved in the very first legal case for welders’ lung, a disease caused by exposure to welding fumes. Despite a High Court loss, the case was successful in the Court of Appeal and paved the way for similar industrial disease claims in the future.

He joined Thompsons Solicitors in 1977 before moving to Rowley Ashworth in 1980. He later rejoined Thompsons Solicitors in 2009 when it merged with Rowley Ashworth.

He said: “It has also been a privilege to have acted for hundreds of mesothelioma victims and their families over the years, and as long as asbestos continues to be a presence in the UK, I know that Thompsons Solicitors will continue to provide their vital first-class personal support to anyone affected.”

Replacing Fisher will be Birmingham-based Thompsons lawyer Alan Dolphin, who comes to the senior role with 34 years of personal injury litigation experience.