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This week’s North East appointments

Square One Law, Michael Shuker, Helen Warren, Malcom Wood, Francesca Angelucci

Commercial law firm Square One Law has recently completed the expansion of its property team after a series of experienced, senior appointments.

Head of property Barney Frith said the additions reflected an increased demand from clients and enabled Square One Law, based in Newcastle, to increase its work with London-centric property deals and high net worth private clients.

The existing team of Barney Frith, Peter Clegg, Satpal Pandal and Jenny Atkin are joined by Michael Shuker, a senior associate who specialises in property finance, who has just joined from Watson Burton; Helen Warren a commercial property lawyer who trained with City firm Pincent Mason before returning to the North East to Sintons and in January Malcom Wood will be joining from Bond Dickinson; he specialises in acting for both investors and owner/occupiers in the acquisition and disposal of commercial properties.

The team has also been strengthened recently by new residential conveyancing partner, Francesca Angelucci, who was at niche London private client firm Judge Sykes Frixou. Francesca’s experience enables the team to work for high net worth individuals and housebuilders.

The North East Combined Authority, Tobyn Hughes

The North East Combined Authority today announced the appointment of its first Managing Director for Transport Operations, to deliver high quality, integrated public transport services across the region.

Tobyn Hughes, previously Deputy Director General of Nexus, will take on the new role responsible for integrating public transport delivery for the Combined Authority area of 2 million people.

Cllr Nick Forbes said :“I am pleased to welcome Tobyn Hughes to a vital new roleserving the public, and taking forward our ambitions for a world-class public transport system, serving urban and rural communities across the region”.

Southdale, Sarah Dannatt and Lewis Minter

Construction and development specialist Southdale has added two new people to its North East team as they take their first steps on the career ladder.

Sarah Dannatt and Lewis Minter have become the latest young people to join the team, which has recently moved into new office space on the Aycliffe Business Park.

Sarah, 20, from Darlington, has joined the firm on a one-year business administration apprenticeship, with training support from Darlington Borough Council.

Trainee quantity surveyor Lewis, also 20, from Guisborough, is on a three-year programme, with training from Redcar and Cleveland College.

Southdale has a strong track record of engaging local young talent. In October, 19-year-old bricklaying apprentice Daniel O’Leary, from Normanby, won the national Rising Star Award from The Bricks Local Authority Building Control Warranty Awards in London’s West End.

Craig Knowles, North East Operations Director for Southdale, said: “It’s fantastic that we are bringing great young talent into the team from around the North East. One of the most rewarding aspects of working in the construction industry is the opportunities it creates for employment, not only for people on sites, such as Daniel, but also wider skills, such as those being developed by Sarah and Lewis. We look forward to helping them to build their careers with us.”

Collingwood Legal, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Jane Sinnamon

Two solicitors’ contributions to the success of specialist north east employment law firm Collingwood Legal has been recognised with promotions. Sarah Fitzpatrick has been made a senior associate solicitor at the Newcastle-based practice, while Jane Sinnamon has been promoted to an associate solicitor position. Sarah and Jane, who are both originally from Northern Ireland, are both named in the legal industry’s primary reference guide, The Legal 500, and have helped make Collingwood Legal the only firm in the North East to have four practitioners recommended for their employment law expertise in the publication’s latest edition. Sarah and Paul McGowan, who founded Collingwood Legal in 2010, are also both named experts in the Chambers and Partners Guide for 2015. Sarah began to specialise in employment law in 2000 and prior to joining Collingwood Legal worked for five years with a large commercial practice in Newcastle. A Northumbria University graduate, Jane worked in practice in the North East before becoming Collingwood’s first recruit shortly after the firm was founded. Collingwood Legal is a relationship-based practice which advises some of the region’s largest businesses and organisations on all aspects of employment law, as well as a growing number of clients elsewhere in the UK. Paul McGowan adds: “Their detailed knowledge of the law, the excellent relationships they build and maintain with our clients and their significant contributions to both our and our clients’ commercial success make Sarah and Jane wholly deserving of their promotions. “Collingwood’s industry reputation and client base is continuing to grow both inside and outside the North East, and being the only firm in the region to have four employment lawyers named in the most recent Legal 500 adds even more credibility to the services we offer.”

NE procurement, Rod Brasington

North East procurement specialist, NE Procurement, are pleased to announce the recent appointment of their new chief executive, Rod Brasington. Rod joins the organisation with a wealth of commercial experience; ranging from sales, marketing and land buying expertise gained during his time as a Sales Director with major housebuilders, to his most recent roles within the Banking sector where he was responsible for third party contract management and negotiation, supporting the development of new product initiatives. Rod is joining the team at an exciting point in their six-year journey and recognises the challenges and huge opportunities the organisation will face in the coming months. One Awards, David Hall

David Hall has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees for Co Durham based One Awards and takes up his post this month from outgoing Chair, Ray Snowdon who has been a Trustee since 2006 and led the board from 2011.

David Hall says: I am delighted to be appointed as Chairman of One Awards - a fantastic organisation that guides and accredits hundreds of vocational courses in a huge variety of subjects every year and offers people practical and useful qualifications that set them on the road to learning, in many cases leading to a new found confidence, great new skills and a worthwhile job.

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