SGH Martineau and Gateley duo arrive at Freeths

FREETHS has added two experienced lawyers to its Birmingham team to complete a ‘one stop shop’ for real estate legal services.

Perveen Akhter has joined the firm as a senior associate from SGH Martineau. She will work with both public and private sector clients and specialises in non-contentious building procurement matters and renewable energy projects.

Planning specialist Zoe Walker joins the firm from Gateley. She is an associate and will focus on planning, compulsory purchase and highways issues.  Ms Walker spent nine years at Gateley and worked with a range of clients from large corporations to individuals.

Richard Beverley, managing partner for Freeths in Birmingham, said: “We’re delighted to have Zoe and Perveen join us. These appointments reaffirm our commitment to investing in the very best talent. Both Perveen and Zoe bring key expertise that will prove vital as Freeths develops its full service offer to real estate clients.

“Our Birmingham team can now offer end-to-end services for property clients from planning and construction to sale and acquisition, which we’re very proud of.”

2015 saw 15 new partners join across Freeths’ network of 11 offices – a record for the company. In November, the Birmingham team relocated to state-of-the-art offices in Colmore Plaza in the heart of Birmingham’s business district.

DWF secures key appointment for insurance practice

DWF has further expanded its Birmingham-based insurance practice with the appointment of DAC Beachcroft’s National Head of Technical Fraud Miles Hepworth.

The appointment follows the arrival of DAC Beachcroft’s Lorraine Carolan as DWF’s National Head of Counter Fraud last year.

Hepworth brings extensive expertise in counter fraud and claims validation, with experience in defending suspected fraudulent insurance claims including motor claims, employer’s liability, public liability as well as first party fraud.

He has worked closely with a number of clients in developing appropriate fraud strategy and providing training and support. Prior to moving into insurance fraud he specialised in shipping law both in the UK and South Africa and is legally qualified in both countries. Based in Birmingham, he will further strengthen the firm’s fraud capability and help to further develop its profile in the market.

Ms Carolan said: “We’re investing heavily in expanding our fraud offerings in order to combat the increasingly diverse nature of fraud cases and increase the support we can offer clients through improved information management solutions, and Miles brings specialist technical knowledge and a client-driven approach that will allow us to continue developing this capability in line with our clients’ business needs.

“Miles will be an excellent addition to DWF’s market-leading counter fraud intelligence and consultancy team, and I look forward to working with him again.”
 

Corporate partner in return to Harrison Clark Rickerbys

HARRISON Clark Rickerbys has announced the return of corporate partner Inger Anson to the firm.  

Ms Anson (left), who was with the firm between 2002 and 2009, was a driving force behind its growth during that period. She has recently been living in Cambridge but has now taken up the offer to return to the firm as partner in the corporate team in Worcester.

Rod Thomas, head of the corporate team in Worcester, said: “I am delighted to have Inger back as a corporate partner.  She established a fantastic reputation as a leading regional corporate lawyer during her previous time here and has only widened her experience whilst living and working in Cambridge.  

“I am sure that she will re-acquaint herself with many existing clients as well as develop strong relationships with many new ones.  Her expertise, particularly in the private equity and venture capital market is, in my opinion, second to none in the region.”