Higgs & Sons supports family business organisation

BLACK COUNTRY law firm Higgs & Sons has reinforced its commitment to family businesses by signing-up to support growing membership organisation, Families in Business (FiB).
 
The agreement sees Higgs & Sons become a FiB Approved Adviser in the Black Country, where it will provide legal services to family-run and owned businesses working within the FiB.
FiB works with family businesses and professional advisers throughout the UK to provide specialist consultancy services, membership and support.
 
The West Midlands is home to more than 200,000 family businesses, accounting for almost two-thirds of the region’s privately-owned firms, according to figures from FiB.
 
“Higgs & Sons is a modern, progressive and forward-thinking firm, with a strong commitment to exceptional client service and technical excellence,” said Dani Saveker, Founder and CEO of FiB.
 
“Advice from specialists like Higgs & Sons is something FiB is committed to providing for members.”
 
Andy Ball, Business Development Director at Higgs & Sons, added: “Higgs & Sons is about family businesses and for us, having a close relationship with FiB is a natural step due to the synergies between us.
 
“We value long-term relationships and care about obtaining a full and deep understanding of our clients’ needs. Our approach is to recognise that no two clients are the same and we bring together our private and corporate disciplines to ensure that the overall family objectives are met.
 
“The firm is excited at the opportunity of working with Dani and her team, something we have been undertaking in any event over the last couple of years, as well as continuing to support family businesses across the region.”

Double appointment helps Black Country legal firm build on growth

LAW firm QualitySolicitors Talbots, which has seven offices across the Black Country and Worcestershire, has taken on Emma Cromarty and Rachel Pardoe as HR manager and practice director respectively.

The experienced duo have been brought in to help manage a 20% growth in turnover, with more than £50m of corporate deals completed in 2014.

Pardoe joins QualitySolicitors Talbots after spending seven years as practice manager at Worcestershire law firm Thursfields, where she was responsible for proactive leadership of the practice and strategic business planning amongst other things.

Cromarty brings a wealth of talent management, employee engagement and recruitment experience to her new role.

The University of Wolverhampton graduate is charged with increasing staff retention and establishing the company as one of the most sought after legal firms to work for.

Santander shows faith with SGH Martineau

SGH Martineau has been re-appointed to the panel of law firms advising Santander, following the banking giant’s review at the start of the year.

The law firm’s Banking and Financial Services team has advised the bank on property finance, corporate finance and due diligence matters for more than 10 years, working closely with its business banking teams across the Midlands.

SGH Martineau banking partner Naomi Tudor said: “Although we have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Santander, it is still good to be re-appointed and have the quality of our past work confirmed. Santander is continuing to increase its presence in the business banking market and this is leading to a growing workload for us, particularly from the bank’s Wolverhampton and Birmingham based business unit.”

Michael Gascoigne, Relationship Director at Santander, added: “We contract the support of a wide and varied panel of law firms, but one thing they all have in common is the consistently high quality of their advice, particularly those like SGH Martineau who have worked with us for many years.

“The determination of firms like SGH Martineau to engage with the sectors in which we operate and provide pragmatic, cost-effective advice, shaped by their genuine understanding of our needs is a major factor in our ongoing relationship. Sharing their knowledge and ensuring individuals connect at every level within our businesses, adds value to what is already an important association.”

Dove appointed to High Court

No5 Chambers advocate Ian Dove QC has been appointed a High Court Judge.

A member of the Planning & Environment and Immigration Asylum and Nationality Groups, Dove was called to the Bar in 1986.  During his 28 years at No5 Chambers he has been appointed a Recorder – Crown and County Court; part-time Immigration Judge (2000); part-time Member of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal (2003); a Deputy High Court Judge (2008) and an Honorary Professor at University of Birmingham.
 
“I have been privileged to learn from and engage with some of the finest legal minds since I arrived at No5 Chambers,” he said.

“The No5 ethos is to attract and retain talented juniors and silks and support their professional development through first-class practice management.

“I am honoured to have been selected for elevation to the position of High Court Judge and, while I shall relish the role and responsibility, I shall miss many of my friends and peers in the various Groups at No5 and throughout the profession, although I shall doubtlessly see some of them before me in court.”