People: Wright Hassall; Ilarna; Fisher German

A Midlands law firm has announced the appointment of two newly-qualified solicitors
following the completion of their training contracts.

Gemma Macintyre and Melissa Scott have begun their roles as solicitors at Wright Hassall, in Leamington.

Macintyre, who is in the planning team, joined the firm in 2019 as a paralegal in the property litigation team and was promoted to senior paralegal before starting her training contract.

She said: “I’m extremely pleased to have qualified. I’ve enjoyed the training contract which allowed me to move around and try different elements of law, to choose a specialism.

“I enjoy property law, and planning feels like a natural fit for me. It is a niche area which is always changing, and Wright Hassall has a fantastic planning team. I now look forward to continuing to develop and hone my skills as a planning solicitor.”

Scott, who is in the firm’s construction and engineering team, joined Wright Hassall in 2021 as a paralegal in the debt recovery team.

During her training contract, she not only developed her knowledge in debt recovery but also gained experience in commercial, commercial property, commercial litigation and construction and engineering.

She said: “The training contract was an excellent experience which enabled me to work across several different specialisms, and all of my supervisors have been so supportive. I knew quite early on that I wanted to be a dispute lawyer, but I still wanted a well-rounded experience where I gained a good overview of the different departments within the firm and how they all interlink.

“I’m pleased to have qualified, and I’m now keen to continue gaining as much knowledge as possible to progress in my career, building my reputation in the construction legal sector.”

Wright Hassall partner Lucie Byron said: “The most satisfying part of our graduate programme is retaining excellent people and watching them start their qualified years with us. In Gemma and Melissa, we have two fantastic examples of trainees who have chosen specialist disciplines having thrived in them during their training contracts.

“Adding skilled lawyers to our teams who truly understand our business enhances the service we can offer our clients and is a testament to the success of our trainee scheme.”

Ilarna, a Warwickshire-based platform dedicated to transforming access to care, has announced the appointment of Ed James and Robert Bloxham as board advisors.

As co-founders of Lunar Agency, a marketing firm, James and Bloxham have played a pivotal role in shaping Ilarna’s brand identity and positioning by challenging traditional healthcare narratives and rethinking patient engagement.

Their deep understanding of audience engagement and storytelling will support Ilarna’s growth and outreach efforts.

Ed James has also been a radio presenter for over two decades.

Hosting the Heart Drivetime show, he has consistently maintained its position as the commercial number one in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

His ability to connect with audiences and build trust through media is a significant asset for Ilarna’s communications and brand strategy.

James said: “Ilarna is making a real difference in the way people find and access care. I’m excited to bring my experience in media and marketing to the table and help shape Ilarna’s storytelling and outreach efforts. It’s an
incredible opportunity to contribute to a platform that has such a meaningful impact on people’s lives.”

Robert Bloxham, managing director of Lunar Agency, is a dynamic leader passionate
about merging data-driven insights with creative storytelling and lateral thought.

His expertise in brand strategy and consumer engagement has helped businesses create
uncompromisingly compelling work with a competitive edge – that delivers both
immediate commercial impact and lasting success.

Bloxham said: “Ilarna is at the forefront of digital transformation in the care
sector. Their mission to improve accessibility and empower care seekers aligns perfectly with my passion for using data and creative content to drive engagement and growth. I’m thrilled to be joining as a Board Advisor and look forward to contributing to Ilarna’s continued success.”

A property agency expert with more than 50 years of experience running his own
Worcestershire agency has joined a leading property consultancy to further expand its business across the Midlands and beyond.

Andrew Grant DL has joined Fisher German as a consultant after a long and distinguished career in the property sector, founding Andrew Grant Estate Agents in Worcester in 1971.

He has been actively involved in various organisations and public life, serving as deputy lieutenant of Worcestershire since 2006 and sitting on the main board of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) from 2016 to 2022.

Andrew Grant

Grant has also been dedicated to charitable work, holding positions such as honorary vice-president of Worcester Red Cross and patron of St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester and the care charity Fitzroy Support.

He said: “I’m pleased to have joined Fisher German as a consultant and help them succeed even further in Worcestershire, the Midlands, and beyond. When selling high-end property, which can often sit on the market for a long time, having a pool of potential buyers who you know might be interested in the property you’re selling is crucial to success.

“I know the Worcestershire property market like the back of my hand thanks to having my own agency for more than 50 years, and through my professional and charitable work I have built up a great network of excellent contacts all over the country, so I am well-placed to help Fisher German and their clients.

“And with my CLA connections, I am hopeful of introducing further work to Fisher
German’s planning and development teams too. Fisher German’s ambitious growth plans and its strong connections to Worcestershire and the wider Midlands were very attractive to me, and I hope I can help play an important role in its future success.”

Stuart Flint, divisional managing partner for Agency at Fisher German said: “Having an agent like Andrew on board is invaluable to us as we look to grow further. The network Andrew brings to Fisher German will be incredibly useful as we look to generate new leads or find buyers for some of our most eye-catching properties. He has already hit the ground running by bringing in some excellent prospects, and we’re delighted he is now part of the team.”