People: Law firm partner appointed to standards board; Sales director joins IT services provider; and more
Andrew McAulay, partner and head of Leeds law firm’s Clarion’s costs and litigation funding team, has been appointed to the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB).
One of just five members of the CLSB, which is an Approved Regulator under the Legal Services Act 2007, McAulay will attend quarterly board meetings covering all matters relating to the regulatory work of the costs lawyer profession. This includes setting and maintaining standards from the education of costs lawyers to practising rules.
McAulay, who trained with Clarion, has almost 20 years’ experience working in legal costs claims, becoming head of costs and litigation funding at the firm in 2008. Initially providing this specialist service internally at Clarion, he has built up the practice to a 25-strong team supporting over 150 law firms across the UK.
He has particular expertise in solicitor/own client costs disputes, court of protection costs, litigation funding and high value commercial litigation and personal injury costs.
He said: “I am proud to have been invited to serve on the CLSB. The organisation has played a major role in raising standards within the profession. Ensuring that legal costs claim are handled professionally and to a high standard is crucial for the legal world.”
:::
Leeds-based managed IT services provider, BCN Group has appointed Rob Davies as group sales director to help support its continued growth.
Davies will also sit on the board of directors.
A qualified sales director and an experienced tech sales professional he has previously held senior sales roles at Computacenter and since 2010 led the Sales and Marketing at Hybrid Cloud provider, Pulsant.
He has been recruited to lead BCN Group’s sales and marketing function in a period of rapid growth and to manage future strategies. He will provide business insight and will simultaneously streamline and refine BCN Group’s sales processes and Go to Market strategy across its three offices.
Simon Kelf, co-founder of the BCN Group, said: “Rob has a proven track record of delivering high quality standards and results, his wealth of experience and knowledge of the sector will help to develop the business, at this exciting time.”
Davies said: ‘‘I am incredibly excited to join a high growth and forward-thinking company such as BCN Group, with highly qualified professional individuals and an excellent track record in exceeding customers’ expectations.”
BCN Group has achieved substantial growth during 2019 both organically and following its acquisition trail. It extended its service offering in the Yorkshire area by acquiring IT service business Blue Logic in May 2019.
BCN Group has grown its turnover to £24m and expects to drive this to £50m by 2025. Expansion will be achieved through an ongoing hunt for further acquisitions, organic growth as well as expanding the team with key hires and development of internal talent.
:::
Law firm Freeths has bolstered its commercial law capability with the appointment of practitioner Frank Suttie.
He joins the practice bringing with him a number of clients active in the education technology sector.
Suttie has significant experience in supporting businesses in their commercial affairs – advising in areas that include business franchising and licensing. He is particularly known for his work at the interface between private and public sectors having been involved in numerous private finance and public transport projects as well as advising in grant funding, procurement and state aid matters.
Working with national head of commercial, Iain Bowler, Suttie will be focusing upon the continuing development of the firm’s commercial presence in the north, building upon the firm’s top 50 reputation as a law firm of choice for corporates in the SME to FTSE 250 range.
The appointment will also make Freeths a leading player in education technology; a rapidly emerging business sector supporting the delivery of education in schools and further and higher education, with more than 1,000 UK businesses engaged in this activity.
Northern managing partner, John May, said: “This appointment is a reinforcement of Freeths’ position as a major player in the north. At a time when businesses face challenges on all fronts, the expertise Frank brings to the practice will be a huge advantage to existing and future clients of the practice.”
:::
A national law firm has promoted 84 colleagues to associate and senior associate roles, with a record number of women recognised in 2020 for their achievements.
Irwin Mitchell has promoted 51 colleagues to associate and a further 33 to senior associate status across the firm’s legal, financial and group services teams.
The Leeds office saw six promotions this year, with Nicola Handley and Michaela Morris from Personal Injury promoted to associate, together with Kata Cowans from Court of Protection and Vicki Rounding from Real Estate.
The senior associate promotions are both in Personal Injury this year, with Ross McWilliams and Samuel Hill recognised for their achievements over the last 12 months.
Andrew Tucker, group chief executive at Irwin Mitchell, said: “The announcement of our associate and senior associate promotions is always a major milestone for the business and the individuals concerned.
“Associate promotions recognise the leaders in the firm and flag their expertise to colleagues and clients alike, so are not made lightly. These new roles reward achievement, while recognising the leaders of tomorrow and those best placed to support colleagues in their own development.
“With 60 female colleagues recognised for their efforts this year our commitment to gender diversity remains clear, as does the strength in depth on display across all our departments.
“Our people are vital to the success of the business and promotion naturally brings a step up in terms of responsibility and as such, is a significant career step all involved can be proud of.
“I congratulate all those involved and look forward to seeing their continued progress throughout 2020 and beyond.”
