Coventry & Warwickshire in business
President & People
Law firm strengthens team
Left to right - Ian Besant, Gemma Faulkner, Suki Harrar and Prisca Bradley from the employment law team at Wright Hassall
Leamington law firm Wright Hassall has bolstered its employment law team with the appointment of a new partner.
experience in the independent schools, charities, healthcare and housing sectors.
Prisca Bradley is a highly experienced lawyer advising on all employmentrelated matters, and has particular
She has joined the Olympus Avenuebased firm from Darbys Solicitors in Oxford, where she spent ten years
having trained with the firm before being promoted to partner and Head of the Employment Team. Prisca has vast experience in dealing with complex dispute cases, and notable achievements include success in the Supreme Court, along with two of her most recent cases achieving sixfigure out of court settlements. At Wright Hassall, Prisca will act for employees and employers and advise on a wide range of employment matters including discrimination, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, equal pay and whistle-blowing. She said: “I have joined Wright Hassall at an exciting time. There are plans for the firm to grow significantly over the next few years and I look forward to assisting with these strategic development and growth plans.” Partner Ian Besant, head of the firm’s People Services group, said: “Prisca joins us at an exciting time in our development, and her varied experience and sector expertise will provide an added dimension to the full employment and HR service which we can offer to our clients.”
New Chief Financial Officer for Warwicknet
John Bezzant has been appointed CFO at Coventry-based WarwickNet
An independent high-speed broadband provider has announced the appointment of a new chief financial officer. John Bezzant has been appointed CFO at WarwickNet, based in Coventry, having previously spent nine years working with SMEs across the Midlands for Barclays Corporate Bank. Prior to that, John spent five years as finance director of two SMEs following a 10-year career with PwC. John said: “I’m very much looking forward to this new challenge and I am excited about playing an integral part in this dynamic firm’s future. WarwickNet has ambitious plans and is uniquely placed to grow rapidly in the business connectivity solutions arena” WarwickNet CEO Ben King said: “I’m extremely pleased John is joining WarwickNet’s Board. John takes up a key position within the business and his broad experience will be a huge asset to WarwickNet as the business transitions from a large regional player to connecting more customers via our evergrowing infrastructure network on a national basis.”
Lodders’ Real Estate practice grows again The top ranking Real Estate team of Midlands law firm Lodders has continued its hiring spree with the appointment of Josy Haigh. With more than 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Josy has held public sector, private practice and in-house positions, most recently as Property and Contracts lawyer at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, previously as Senior Legal Officer at Coventry City Council, and two years in the Commercial Property and Commercial Contracts Team at Huddersfield firm Eaton Smith Solicitors. In the new role, Josy is working alongside Partner James Mottram, a specialist in residential development who is well-known amongst the UK’s major housebuilders and acts on large residential development deals across the UK. She is the third fee earner to join the Real Estate team this year - Lodders appointed Ravinder Heer and Scott Parmenter as Paralegals in February, working with Partners Alastair Frew and Steven Baker respectively. Lodders’ Real Estate team is now 18strong, with six partners including team head Nick East. It is one of the main players in residential development transactions in the Midlands with clients including CALA Homes, Cameron Homes and Spitfire Properties LLP. Josy lives in Warwick and is based at Lodders’ Stratford upon Avon office.
New job for Gemma Leading law firm Wright Hassall has appointed Gemma Carson as it new head of commercial litigation. Gemma has risen through the ranks at the Leamington-based solicitors having joined Wright Hassall from university. She takes over from Sarah Perry, who was appointed Managing Partner earlier this year. Gemma joined Wright Hassall as a paralegal in 2001, and qualified as a solicitor three years later, before being promoted to partner in 2012. She has been an integral member of the firm’s commercial litigation department for nine years and specialises in inheritance and professional negligence disputes. Her career path mirrors that of Sarah Perry,
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
who also trained as a solicitor with Wright Hassall before going on to be named head of commercial litigation. Gemma, who is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTPAS), said: “The commercial litigation team, and the firm as a whole, has increased performance year-on-year, even through the recession, and I’m determined to play a major role in strengthening our position in the market even further.” Sarah Perry said: “Gemma will have an important role to play in the continued growth of our commercial litigation department and the firm as a whole.”
Left to right - Gemma Carson and Wright Hassall Managing Partner Sarah Perry
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