Silk Family Law appointment

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This week’s North East appointments

Silk Family Law has expanded its Newcastle team with the appointment of North East solicitor, Joanne Hall.

Newcastle born and educated Joanne joins specialist family law firm Silk from her previous role at Major Family Law. She qualified as a family lawyer in 2007 and specialises in resolving complex disputes involving children and finance. The annual Legal 500 guide describes Joanne as a ‘star in the making’.

Silk partner and barrister, Ian Kennerley, said: “We’re very happy to welcome one of the North East’s leading young lawyers to our team. Joanne’s expertise will strengthen an already successful team and help support our growth ambitions for the firm.”

L-R: Barry Gill, Chris Robson and Carl Swansbury of Ryecroft Glenton

Ryecroft Glenton has strengthened its corporate finance team with the appointment of Barry Gill.

Barry joins Ryecroft Glenton from Tait Walker Corporate Finance and will fulfil a newly created role as corporate finance senior, within the Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance (RGCF) division.

RGCF, which is led by experienced corporate finance director Carl Swansbury, has already completed a number of transactions this year and has a very healthy pipeline, which will ultimately lead to more transactions completing in the coming months.

Barry is highly skilled in advising businesses on all aspects of corporate finance, including fund raising, acquisitions and disposals, as well as MBIs and MBOs.

Barry Gill said: “RGCF is a fast growing corporate finance team and has already established a strong reputation for providing first-rate advice on strategically important and business critical transactions, as a result of the way in which the team advises clients, helping them meet their personal and business objectives.

“My role as Corporate Finance Senior is to assist the team in further developing RGCF in the future, and to contribute to its consistent growth and high standards.”

An employment law solicitor has returned home to the North East after taking up a position with regional firm BHP Law.

Oliver Hebdon will travel to clients across the region from the firm’s offices in Newcastle, Stockton, Durham and Darlington.

The 26-year-old was brought up in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, attending local primary and secondary schools before studying law at Northumbria University. He trained at a commercial practice with offices in St Albans and London before qualifying last month.

Oliver said: “I wanted to move back home to the North East and BHP Law is a firm I have always been interested in as it has real presence in the region.

“I enjoy employment law as it involves such a huge spectrum of legal issues, from unfair dismissals to redundancy, sex discrimination to equal pay.”

A North East land agency firm has strengthened its board with the appointment of a new director.

Jonathan Landale has become the fifth director on the board of Bywell-based Land Factor, joining Tom Warde-Aldam, Athole McKillop, Peter Combe and Roddy Findlay.

The 34-year-old, from Northumberland, has been an Associate at Land Factor for five years and has been principally responsible for the management of the extensive Allendale Estates.

A keen rural sportsman, he joined the company, which manages estates throughout the north of England and southern Scotland, after several years managing estates in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.

A qualified chartered surveyor, Jonathan has travelled extensively in South America and South Africa and also worked in New Zealand and Australia after graduating from Aberdeen University with a degree in Land Economy.

North East-based energy efficiency organisation Tadea-UK has appointed Steve Hunter as its new managing director.

Mr. Hunter, who prior to this appointment served as the company’s Chairman, begins his new role with immediate effect.

Tadea-UK, which is headquartered in Billingham and has satellite offices in Carlisle, Gateshead and Huddersfield, has been a sector leader in the sustainability field for over a decade – dealing in particular with home insulation programmes, energy efficiency advice delivery, renewable energy, sustainable transport and project management. The company switched to employee-owned status in August 2013.

Steve Hunter, managing director of Tadea-UK, says: “I am delighted to have been appointed Managing Director of Tadea UK-Ltd and quite humbled by the faith the Board and staff have shown in me.

“Many people will know that I have had close association with Tadea-UK since its inception in 2002 and that I have worked hard throughout that time to help it build success.”

North East architecture practice, Gradon Architecture, has welcomed local architect Katie Shepherd to its Gateshead offices.

Katie, whose impressive portfolio includes working on the cutting-edge design for the Football Association’s National Football Centre at St George’s Park in Burton.

The 31 year-old, from Gateshead is the fifth new member to join the practice within the last twelve months.

As well as being involved in projects across a variety of sectors at the practice, Katie will be working on Gradon’s current design blueprint for a proposed mixture of new homes and community facilities to the east of Sedgefield town centre in County Durham.

Katie, who has five years’ experience after qualifying from Newcastle University and De Montfort University, Leicester, in 2009 said: “My father was a builder and my grandfather a joiner, so architecture was a natural career path for me – they truly inspired me to give it a go.

“Joining such a forward-thinking team means that there are lots of opportunities for me to work on design projects that can make a real difference to people’s lives. It also offers the chance to work closely with clients and that is something that I really enjoy.

“I have a keen interest in sustainability within the built environment which makes Gradon the perfect fit and I hope to develop my knowledge of ‘green’ architecture further. I am delighted to have joined such a dynamic and emerging practice.”

Northstar Ventures has recruited experienced investment manager Wesley Hartley to support start up and early stage companies seeking investment from the Proof of Concept Fund.

In his role as investment manager Wesley, from Burnley, Lancashire, who previously worked in social finance, will be responsible for assessing and completing investments from the fund.

The 33 year-old holds a degree in Politics and Sociology from the University of Northumbria and has travelled extensively across South America and South East Asia.

Ian Richards, director at Northstar Ventures, said: “We are confident Wesley’s experience in providing strategic development services for various third-sector organisations, allied to his proven expertise within the financial sector, will make him a valuable addition to our team.”

North East construction company, the Owen Pugh Group, has made a number of new appointments to its senior management team.

Steve Hamilton, from Quarrington Hill near Coxhoe in County Durham, has joined the company as business development manager for Owen Pugh GDC, the company’s civil engineering division, which is responsible for carrying out drainage works, flood alleviation, coastal and river works, and urban regeneration projects, for organisations including local authorities and water utility companies.

Heather Robinson has also joined the Owen Pugh team in recent weeks having taken on the role of group HR manager based at the company’s Dudley HQ.

Vicki McGregor has been appointed as submissions manager with a responsibility for identifying and bidding for new contracts across the group following nine years spent in bid writing.

Bannatyne’s Health Club in Darlington has appointed a former reception manager, who met her husband-to-be while working at the club, as its new acting general manager.

Fiona Dalton, now 33, will look after the Darlington club while colleague Sue Stockdale is on maternity leave.

Fiona has worked for Bannatyne’s for more than ten years, starting as a part time membership sales advisor at the Ingleby Barwick Health Club, where she met her husband, Michael, who was working as a fitness instructor, before moving to Coulby Newham, where she was promoted to reception manager.

She said: “I’m really excited to be heading up one of the flagship clubs. It’s a lovely facility, with a very committed, friendly and involved membership, so I’m really keen to ensure that we continue to listen to members and keep them involved in the running of the club.

“I’ve worked at Darlington for some time now, so I know we have a great team here and I am looking forward to further improving customer experience.”

Woodruff & Co Property Consultants has appointed a new senior surveyor to enhance the services provided from its Durham and Newcastle city-centre based offices.

Andy Bennett joins the team in response to an increased demand for residential survey and valuation instructions, and will be providing valuations, HomeBuyer Reports and Building Surveys across the County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland areas for the business.

Andy said: “I am delighted to have joined the team at Woodruff and Co, as it gives me the opportunity to utilise the experience and local knowledge I have gained over the years to provide a quality-driven, personal service to clients throughout the North East.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .

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