Appointments: Ward Hadaway, Carter Towler, Newtons Solicitors, Nisa

THE insolvency team at law firm Ward Hadaway has been boosted by the recruitment of Chris Keane to its Leeds office.

He joins the five-strong insolvency team at the firm as an associate solicitor, after holding a senior associate position at Squire Patton Boggs.

Specialising in insolvency, Mr Keane advises financiers, insolvency practitioners and other insolvency professionals and directors as well as creditors on all issues arising in stressed and distressed scenarios.

Gillian Kaufman, partner in the insolvency and corporate recovery team at Ward Hadaway Leeds, said: “Chris is a perfect fit for the team so we are delighted he has decided to join us.

“The expansion in our client base and the increasing demand on the team’s services meant it was important for us to invest further and I am sure Chris will be a real asset to us and to our clients.”

Harmajinder Hayre , executive partner for the Leeds office of Ward Hadaway, said: “As a Northern law firm for national business, we are committed to building our practice in Yorkshire and this is a great way to start 2016 as we mean to go on.”

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CHARTERED surveyors Carter Towler have made a raft of appointments across the business.

Senior surveyor Philip Shopland-Reed, formerly of DTZ and CBRE, joins the newly promoted Peter Bradbury, who will now head up the retail department.

Chris Green has been appointed as head of Carter Towler’s professional services department, where he joins from Sanderson Weatherall.

Working alongside him will be his brother Mark Green, a senior surveyor.

In the property management division, Carter Towler has appointed insolvency analyst Will Parker, formerly of Eversheds.

Andy Carter who has headed the business for over 30 years has taken a position as non-executive co-chairman. David Priestley is the new executive co-chairman and Ian Greenwood has been promoted to managing director of the 49-strong firm.

Ian Greenwood, who has been with the business for 27 years, said: “Our clients are getting busier and asking for more from us, and we have also won some fantastic new business in the past six months including big instructions with a number of blue chip clients – it’s time to gear up”.

“We’ve got a great, loyal team, all highly capable. It’s fantastic to see their careers progressing as we grow and the new fresh talent we’ve recruited will help underpin that. We have always been extremely considered about how we take the business forward. Six decades of solid growth is testament to that!”

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FOLLOWING several appointments recently, as well as a major merger, Newtons Solicitors welcomes another addition to the team.

Rachel Robinson has joined the Knaresborough 17-strong residential property team as a senior associate solicitor.

Ms Robinson joins from Berwins Solicitors of Harrogate, where she was also a senior associate.

She completed a training contract with Cheshire Contract, and has focused on residential property since.

Newtons Solicitors, which has a £4m annual turnover, also has offices in Darlington, Harrogate, Ilkley, Leyburn, Northallerton, Ripon, Richmond, Stokesley, Thirsk and York.

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YORK convenience retailer Nisa has appointed a former Amazon executive as head of IT operations.

Steven Cook held roles at Amazon including UK regional IT manager, and has led IT teams for 16 years.

Jon Stowe, Nisa operations director said: “We are really pleased that Steven is joining Nisa to further strengthen our excellent and experienced IT team as we embark on the development of a strategic review to ensure that our IT infrastructure continues to offer the very best support to the independent retailer”.

Steven Cook said of his appointment: “I’m delighted to have joined the Nisa team and I’m looking forward to working closely with the business to continuously improve the IT services we provide to our members and the Nisa team.”