The owner of a skip hire firm in Bacup has been fined after he was filmed putting an employee’s life in danger by lifting him in a digger bucket.

Christopher Jones was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a member of the public made a video recording of the incident, which took place at Shadlock Skips on Newchurch Road on 1 May 2013.

Burnley Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Jones, 44 from Rossendale, and an employee had been trying to remove a small piece of damaged plywood above the main shutter doors.

No measures were put in place to prevent the worker falling around four metres from the bucket to the ground below.

The court was told much safer methods of carrying out the work were available on the site. These included attaching a man-riding cage to the front of the vehicle or simply using a ladder.

Mr Jones previously received a warning from HSE less than two months before the incident after the same employee was witnessed riding on top of a fully laden skip wagon as it reversed into the site.

Christopher Jones, of West View Road in Rossendale, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,039 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 on 16 May 2014.

HSE Inspector David Myrtle said: "Falls from height are a major cause of workplace deaths in Great Britain. It’s for this reason that HSE takes work at height seriously and expects employers, such as Mr Jones, to do the same.

“He knew that raising his employee in the bucket of the telehandler was wrong but thought that since the job would only take a minute it would be ok.

“That minute has cost Mr Jones dearly but had the employee fallen from the bucket then the cost to him and his family would have been immeasurable. It’s never ok to put someone’s life in danger – no matter how long it lasts."

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Yorkshire law firm Gordons has been appointed by Northern Rail, the UK’s largest train operator, to provide employment law services.

Gordons will be advising Leeds-based Northern Rail on employment strategy, assisting with change projects, trade union relations and tribunal claims.

Adrian Thompson, human resources and change director, Northern Rail said: “Gordons has a vast amount of experience within the transport industry.

"We are impressed by their enthusiasm and knowledge, and are looking forward to working closely with the employment team.“

Northern Rail is owned by a 50:50 joint venture between Serco Group, the international services repair company, and Abellio, a subsidiary of NS Dutch Railways.

Formed in 2004, it has over 5,000 employees and provides nearly 2,500 local and regional train services every weekday.

Paul Stokey, partner and head of employment at Gordons, said: “We are delighted to start a new relationship with Northern Rail. This contract expands our ever-growing presence within the transport sector.“

Gordons’ transport experts include Simon Robinson, employment partner, and Edward Nuttman, senior employment solicitor, who have a combined experience of over 20 years’ advising numerous rail, bus and coach operators throughout the UK.

In addition to Northern Rail, Gordons’ employment team has had a number of recent business wins, including theChildren and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, leading bus operator Transdev Blazefield and Asset Skills, the sector skills council for the housing, construction and facilities management industries.

Gordons has been established for about 170 years, has offices in Leeds, Bradford and London, employs 265 people and has a turnover of more than £25.3 million.

Clients include Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, construction and high performance materials manufacturer Saint Gobain, international brewers Molson Coors, greetings card retailer Card Factory and the world’s largest electrical heating business Glen Dimplex. For more information visit www.gordonsllp.com

Law firm Sintons has overseen more than £60 million of dental practice sales and acquisitions across the UK in the past three years.

The nationally-esteemed healthcare team has carried out 200 transactions throughout the country, and has led to Sintons being regarded as one of the leading specialist providers to dentists in the UK.

The specialist dental team - led by Amanda Maskery, who was recently made Chair of the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists (ASPD) - has over 30 years of experience in working with dentists, and boasts unrivalled legal expertise in the North East.

Instructions from dentists have increased significantly over the past 12 months, and 2013 was a particularly successful year for dental deals at Sintons.

Among the transactions - which involve premises of all sizes, from one-person operations to high value, multi-practice businesses - are deals for clients whom Sintons has acted for over many years, and with whom the team has established close relationships. Many dental clients also use Sintons for their private work, as well as their business transactions.

The team advises on a full range of issues, including sales, acquisitions and incorporations, negotiations over NHS contracts, procurement and competitive tendering, banking and finance and commercial property.

Amanda Maskery, partner at Sintons, has a national reputation for her work and was hailed by Legal 500 as being a “top dental sector specialist."

She said: "The fact we have been appointed to act in over £60 million of dental transactions in the last three years alone is indicative of the strength and expertise of our team at Sintons.

“Our clients, many of whom we have worked with for numerous years, come to know us personally and trust us, and are left in no doubt that they are receiving the very best advice from a specialist team of lawyers.

"To provide advice to dentists requires an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the very complex issues affecting them and the challenges faced by their profession.

“At Sintons, we have acted for dentists for over 30 years, and our expertise, coupled with the unrivalled personal service for which we as a firm are renowned, means that we are the lawyers of choice for many dental practices and groups across the North East and beyond."

A £20 million refinancing of Durham-based 3R Land and Property has been completed with the support of North East dealmakers, and has enabled the property business to consider “significant” development opportunities across the region.

3R received the funding from Handelsbanken in Durham, who instructed law firm Sintons to oversee the transaction. The deal, which was brokered by corporate financier Mark Nixon, is one of the largest in the city’s real estate market for several years.

Neil Hart and Peter Bartley of Bradley Hall provided commercial advice and instructed 3R on the management of its portfolio, with Baker Tilly and Knight Frank also advising on the deal.

Property business 3R - which has an extensive student accommodation portfolio in Durham, as well as an array of commercial property in Durham, Newcastle and Gateshead - is now looking at development opportunities for housing and commercial projects across the North East.

The Durham office of Handelsbanken, led by Bill Ridley, financed the deal. 3R turned to Handelsbanken after terminating its relationship with previous lender Northern Rock.

A four-Partner team at Newcastle law firm Sintons handled all of the legal aspects. Mark Dobbin, who head Sintons’ specialist banking and finance team, assisted by Laura Peace, carried out all the secured lending work. Christopher Welch provided commercial advice, and Alok Loomba handled the real estate aspects for 3R.

Robert Fulton, director of 3R, said: “Since changing to a new lender, with whom we have a very positive and supportive relationship, we are now able to consider plans for significant developments throughout the North East. We are grateful for the support of everyone who has enabled this deal to become reality.”

Mark Dobbin, partner in the Banking and Finance team at Sintons, said: “We have worked with Handelsbanken on many substantial transactions over the course of many years, but this is our first with their Durham branch. We are very pleased to have played a role in this deal.”

Bill Ridley, head of Handelsbanken’s Durham office, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in such a significant deal for Durham and to have had the opportunity to work with great local professional teams.”

Peter Bartley, director at Bradley Hall, said: “The completion of this major refinancing opens up significant development opportunities for Robert and 3R. We are proud to have played a key role in one of the largest real estate deals in the North East this year.”

Mark Nixon, from Newcastle-based MN Corporate Finance, said: “Having worked with 3R and Handelsbanken for the past 18 months to bring this deal together, we have achieved an excellent outcome. This funding positions 3R very strongly as they consider exciting plans for developments across the region.”

Richard Urron, associate director at Baker Tilly North East said: “We have worked with 3R for over 12 months assisting with the refinancing. It’s a great business and this new facility will enable the company to look forward to exciting future projects.”

The daughter of one of the region’s most successful retail entrepreneurs has now become a businesswoman in her own right with the launch of her online fashion boutique.

Jenny Peng Gillender has created Peak Boutique, an online fashion store offering a range of carefully selected women’s clothing and accessories from a range of affordable brands. New products are added to the site daily.  

Peak Boutique, based in Newcastle, was launched earlier this month, and within eight hours of the start of trading, the website peakboutique.co.uk had received 8,000 hits. In its first month of business, orders have been placed from as far afield as Hong Kong and Australia, with regular orders coming from the United States.

The 25-year-old, who has an MBA from Newcastle University Business School, has overseen every aspect of the creation of Peak Boutique, which has been in the planning for over a year.  It operates from newly-acquired premises in Fenham.

Peakboutique.co.uk, which was designed by Jenny, uses two of her school friends as its models, one of whom – Kallula Dixon – is Miss Philippines UK, as well as being Jenny’s website design manager at AYO Digital.

The young retail entrepreneur is following in the footsteps of her father, Wilf Gillender, who owned the master franchise of Body Shop in the North East, as well as for the whole of France, and was also instrumental in the creation of the brand’s Body Shop Direct division.

She also follows the lead of her brother Nicky, who last year took over the popular Sale Pepe restaurant in Jesmond, and which is now thriving after a full refurbishment and re-launch.

Jenny – who has already taken on her first member of staff, general manager Amy Law - said: “I have always wanted to launch a fashion business, but I’m very grateful to my dad for encouraging me to get my qualifications first so that I could fully understand all aspects of business. He has taught me so much about how to be successful and has given me so much support and advice.

“Already, we have got off to such a brilliant start, and are seeing orders and regular visitors to the site from all over the world.

“While there are a lot of online fashion retailers, I think we are really standing out from the crowd through our attention to detail. Our website is totally bespoke and designed by me personally, we are the only retailer of our kind to offer a loyalty scheme, and we pay special attention to the quality of our packaging. 

"Feedback from customers has been fantastic, and we are delighted with how our first few weeks in business have gone.”

Jenny has been supported legally in the creation of Peak Boutique by Newcastle law firm Sintons. Christopher Welch, Partner in the Company and Commercial department, who has acted for the Gillender family for more than 20 years, led the team who completed the work.

She also secured funding for her venture from Barclays.

Christopher Welch said: “Jenny has spent a long time planning and working on the launch of her own online fashion store, and her hard work is now reaping rewards. She has identified ways of overcoming some key shortcomings by her competitors, and has ensured Peak Boutique offers customers an all-round positive experience.

“The business is ideally positioned to become one of the key players in online women’s fashion, and we are very pleased to have been able to support Jenny in its creation.”

Yorkshire law firm Gordons has started the year on a high having completed a number of high profile corporate deals and with a strong pipeline of work ahead.

The firm has acted on more than fifteen deals during the year to date, including advising Bradford & Leeds Chamber of Commerce on its merger with Leeds York & North Yorkshire Chamber in February.

Gordons also advised Enact, the £7.5 million SME fund launched by private equity house Endless, on April’s acquisition of 35 West Cornwall Pasty Company outlets. 

Other highlights include advising the shareholders of Corrosion Resistant Products, a specialist manufacturer based in Littleborough, on its acquisition by Swedish group Indutrade earlier this month.

Commenting on the period, Gordons’ head of corporate, James Fawcett, said: “We have had a very positive start to 2014. Activity levels are well ahead of last year which is indicative of the both the general resurgence of the economy and the fact that Gordons is winning new clients who recognise the value of our straightforward, practical, service-led approach.

“There is undoubtedly an increasing sense of confidence amongst businesses and investors throughout the region. The pipeline of deals we are working on continues to grow and we are excited about the rest of the year.“

Rapidly-expanding Yorkshire lawyers 3volution have moved into new offices in Leeds.

The commercial law firm has relocated from King Street to 10 South Parade in the heart of Leeds’s professional quarter.

3volution has taken the 3,665 sq ft second floor suite at South Parade on a 10-year-lease.

Louise Handley, partner with 3volution, commented: “We now have 19 staff and are looking to expand. We had outgrown our premises at King Streetand needed the extra space at 10 South Parade.

“Our business is flourishing and we know that the new premises at 10South Parade will give us a fantastic platform for further growth."

3volution was founded in May 2011 byJonathan Priestley, Louise Handley and Tim Stone. It is a boutique commercial law firm focusing on four main areas of specialism: commercial litigation,corporate, employment, finance, intellectual property/information technology.

The practice has grown rapidly as a result of its commitment to providing high levels of personalised expert service in its specialist areas.  As a result the firm has continued to enjoy support from both old and new clients.  

The Corporate Recovery team from Linder Myers’ Manchester office has joined Taylors, in a move that will bring further significant growth for the niche commercial firm that recently reported a 21% increase in turnover for the 2014 financial year.

Mark Dennis, who headed Linder Myers’ Corporate Recovery team, James Haigh and Peter Crewe will all join the firm as Partners and George Dennis will join as Paralegal. All four will be part of an enlarged Restructuring & Corporate Recovery team, headed by Andrew Livesey. Earlier this year, the team appointed Stuart Beatson who joined from Pannone and announced the promotion of Grahame Love to Partner.

Andrew Livesey commented, “We are obviously delighted that the team has joined Taylors and very much welcome them to the firm. Their appointments represent an opportunity for significant growth, of not only our existing Restructuring & Corporate Recovery offering, but across the firm in a number of our key service areas, and in both the Manchester market and wider afield throughout the North West”.

“Mark and the team are all very well connected and highly regarded in the market and have a loyal following of a number of established corporate clients who, I am proud to say, are extremely supportive of the team’s move to Taylors”.

Speaking of the move, Mark Dennis said, “We are delighted to be joining Taylors. As soon as we opened discussions, it became obvious that our client bases were complimentary and the fact that we are now a team of five Partners substantially increases our capacity and offering. We are all very much focused on developing the Taylors brand and practice”

National business law firm DWF has advised Clipper Logistics plc ("Clipper"), a leading provider of logistics solutions to the retail sector in the UK, on its Main Market IPO, with total market capitalisation of approximately £100 million.

The listing will facilitate future access to capital and provides Clipper with a platform for growth in the rapidly expanding e-fulfilment and returns market.

Founded by Steve Parkin in 1992, Clipper is a leading provider of logistics and e-fulfilment to the UK retail sector, providing services within the online fashion and non-food sectors to clients including ASOS, Morrisons, New Look and Tesco. 

As part of the deal the trading company Clipper and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including Northern Commercials, will remain and Clipper Logistics plc will become its holding company.

Leading the deal for DWF, corporate partner Guy Jackson commented: "It has been a pleasure to work with Clipper on a deal which provides such a strong platform for future growth, particularly as the flotation will enable the Group to continue its development of new, complementary products and services in the logistics sector and its European expansion, further supporting the Group’s leading customer proposition.

“The DWF team has significant expertise across the logistics, transport and retail sectors and were well-placed to support Clipper throughout all aspects of the transaction."

Guy Jackson was supported on the deal by a national team including corporate director Lisa Stavropoulos, solicitor Lucy Shenton and partner Daniel O’Gorman.

Steve Parkin, executive chairman of Clipper, added: "I am delighted with the success of the offering and the strong response from investors demonstrating their support of the company’s ambitious growth plans. This is a major milestone in the company’s development and I look forward to the next phase as a publicly listed company with great confidence.

"I’d also like to thank Guy and his team at DWF. Having a team of advisers that works with you as a partner makes a huge difference. Throughout this process they have provided us with fantastic support and have been there 24/7. Quite frankly no request has been too much for them."

DWF’s 80-strong corporate team has seen a 140% year-on-year increase in deal volumes across the UK with particular growth in the retail, technology and transport sectors.

The firm’s experienced retail team advises an extensive base of major household names and FTSE-listed companies on a range of matters such as commercial contracts, supply chain issues, intellectual property, regulatory and data protection requirements.

Image source: Rodrigo_Amorim

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has announced a new partnership arrangement with Envestors Limited’s northern office, a specialist corporate finance house for high growth entrepreneurial businesses.

The leading law firm has become a corporate specialist partner for Envestors’ North which incorporated Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA) into the business last year.

The organisation, Envestors North (YABA), provides an introduction service for private equity investors, entrepreneurs and companies seeking finance, typically providing investment of between £300k to £1 million for younger companies and up to £10 million for more established businesses.

As part of the partnership arrangement, Irwin Mitchell will host, attend and help facilitate Envestors’ monthly investment briefings on securing equity investment.

These interactive sessions provide an opportunity for businesses from across the region to pitch their business, whilst receiving specialist advice in relation to key issues including important legal considerations.

The best companies are then selected to present their opportunity to a growing network of over 70 angel investors.  The members have a total of c.£19 million of risk capital to invest in sums ranging from £10k to 250k as individuals, however they often form syndicates to share risk and experience.

Andrea Cropley, partner and head of corporate in the North at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Envestors and YABA have rich histories for supporting fast-growing businesses and together the new combined organisation in the North provides an extremely valuable one-stop-shop for both entrepreneurs and investors. 

“Irwin Mitchell is already active in this area and this partnership will enable the firm to become directly involved, not just as a sponsor, but as an organisation that can provide advice to investors and fast-growing businesses at a critical point of their development.”

Barbara Greaves, manager at Envestors North (YABA) said: Our corporate specialist partners are chosen for their support and active involvement in the entrepreneur and investor markets and we are delighted to be working closely with Irwin Mitchell.”

Leeds-based corporate solicitors Shulmans has moved into its new offices at 10 Wellington Place, as it announced impressive growth figures for the fifth year in a row.

Shulmans has seen growth of over 10% in each of the past five years, its turnover as of March 31 this year rising to £8.85 million. 

In 2010 Shulmans announced its intention to grow by 50% in five years, an ambitious aim yet one which it achieved in only three years.  

It has created over 50 new jobs and recently made three senior level appointments, which is, according to managing partner Tim Halstead, “a sign of our ability to attract some of the very best talent in the region.  Talent that traditionally might go to bigger firms is instead coming to us.“

Tim said: “In March of last year, when we signed up for a 15 year lease on 10 Wellington Place, some people said we were ‘brave’, as the economic recovery was barely visible.  Now they’re telling us it was a really good move.

“This is the first new build grade A office development in Leeds for over five years. We committed to it, as we had confidence in our business and in the wider Leeds City Region”

“In the last year or so we have worked for the likes of Town Centre Securities, Costcutter the Canal & River Trust, the Chatsworth Estate (Bolton Abbey) and several insurers and Lloyd’s syndicates. 

"We have advised City of York Council on its headquarters relocation and acted for Barratt & David Wilson Homes on its acquisition of a number of new housing sites, including the former Terry’s chocolate factory.“

The Leeds Employment Tribunal has released its judgment in relation to the claim by thousands of ex-Comet employees against Comet relating to its failure to collectively consult with the 6,889 employees who were made redundant after the firm went into administration.

Leeds based law firm, The Needle Partnership LLP’s employment team,represents 275 ex-Comet employees, being the largest group of claimants with legal representation.

The judgment gives protective awards of the maximum 90 days for those employees dismissed on or after 17 November 2012 and 70 days for those dismissed in the period from 3 to 16 November 2012.

The Employment Tribunal found that there had been no election of representatives, that misleading information was given to the representatives about the proposals, and that there was no consultation at all.

A number of concerning details about the financial background to Comet’s administration emerged during the Tribunal case.

Victoria Robertson, employment partner at The Needle Partnership LLP says: “We are very pleased with this outcome.

"Comet’s demise is one of the biggest High Street casualties of recent years. A corporate raid by private equity investors resulted in a 75 year old British company being destroyed and nearly 7,000 jobs being lost.

"Many of the ex-Comet employees have found it difficult to obtain employment elsewhere and have suffered financially. During the Tribunal case it emerged that they had been lied to, misinformed, and treated with very little dignity or respect whilst Comet’s owners extracted the maximum value from the business. ”

Deloitte LLP, the administrators, filed a report in October 2013 showing that they had been paid £5 million in fees.

The same report details that the retail consultants involved in store management and closures had been paid £7.2 million.

Meanwhile Comet and its owners escaped any liability for paying redundancy pay and notice pay but employees were left to claim the minimum statutory amounts from the Insolvency Service (i.e. the tax payer). The Insolvency Service will also pay the protective awards.

On a wider scale, this case has strong implications for employers considering making more than 20 employees redundant and underlines the principles that information must be given to employees, representatives must be elected, and consultation must involve real engagement with employees – as the Judge commented, even if suggestions from employees would be futile, an attempt should still be made to engage with employees.“

Leeds-based law firm, Blacks Solicitors LLP, has announced a number of new appointments following an increase in turnover (21%) and profit (7%) during 2013/2014.

The firm, which is celebrating its 25th year this month, has prioritised investment in its staff, further bolstering its Coveyancing team with no less than 25 appointments including Aisling Owen as senior conveyancer and Helen Nicoll in the Post Completion Department. 

The Wills and Probate team is joined by Solicitor, Helen Gott, and Solicitors Aimee Jackson and Andrew Challener join the Commercial Property team.

These recent appointments are just some of the 35 new members of staff to be recruited by the firm over the last 12 months as part of a planned program of growth.

Chris Allen, managing partner at Blacks comments, “I am proud to announce yet another successful year of financial results for Blacks, and as a result welcome so many new faces to our team of experts. 

"Our expansion is a true testament to the hard work that goes in to delivering exceptional service for our clients, along with sensible financial management. We look forward to continuing this growth over the next 12 months.”

LCF Law will become the first legal practice in the UK to offer free employment law advice via twitter, according to the firm.

The session will take place on Wednesday June 18 between 1pm and 3pm and during this time anyone with employment related questions can tweet them to the firm’s employment team who will post answers and include more detailed responses at www.lcf.co.uk/blog.  

Questions should be tweeted to @lawfairsquare using the hash tag #UKLegalHour.

Simon Stell, managing partner at LCF Law, says: “Following our rebrand earlier this year, when we introduced the marketing message ‘Law Fair and Square’, our Twitter following has continued growing and it has become an extremely valuable communication and marketing channel for us. 

“This session is the latest in a number of initiatives to encourage both our followers and target audience to engage with LCF Law and it gives us the perfect platform to promote our ability to provide fast and simple legal advice, which is what our whole company ethos is about.

“This will be the first time that legal questions have been answered in real time via Twitter and we are confident that it will be well-received.  

"We decided to focus on employment law initially because it appeals to a vast audience, that includes both employers and employees, and we’re hoping to offer similar initiatives for several of our other legal disciplines over the coming months.“

LCF Law is a leading commercial law firm that works with both businesses and private individuals.  The long-established firm employs an 85 strong team across offices in Leeds, Bradford and Ilkley. 

Law firm gunnercooke has reached 50 partners, a significant milestone in the business’ development. The Firm has recently secured panel appointments from five FTSE 250 or equivalent businesses, and is fast becoming a challenger brand to much larger contemporaries, providing clients with senior, city quality lawyers, and certainty on fees.

The model continues to attract lawyers from leading national firms and senior in-house positions, and the latest recruits are undoubtedly another coup.

Ammar Al-Tabbaa joined gunnercooke as a Regulatory Partner having previously worked at McKinsey & Company, where he was the firm’s Public Sector Counsel for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He previously worked at Simmons & Simmons where he specialised in regulated public and utilities procurement.

Vincent Coppinger joined as a commercial litigation and regulatory partner with extensive experience dealing with aviation liability insurance work, direct aviation litigation, ICC arbitration matters and aviation regulatory work for airlines and other aspects of leisure industry work. Vincent previously held partner positions at Stephenson Harwood and DLA Piper.

Laurence Katz joined the firm as a litigation partner having been a partner at Paisner & Co, Holman Fenwick Willan and most recently CKFT. Laurence specialises in fraud and asset tracing claims, insolvency and commercial disputes.

He is named in Who’s Who Legal as a specialist in Asset Recovery, and the Chambers 2014 guide describes him as a ‘hands-on’ practitioner and ‘good tactician’ with a ‘calm and measured approach’ and ‘excellent’ attention to detail.“

Francess Deigh joined as a corporate and commercial partner, with over 15 years of experience across a range of business sectors. Francess has worked for FTSE 100 Companies and international key players in the Mining, Energy, Oil & Gas Sectors and Telecommunication sector following qualification as a non-practising Barrister, and is lauded for her in-house counsel expertise.

Hannah Beko became a partner within the Real Estate team. She trained at Beachcrofts and worked for Eversheds in Manchester before joining gunnercooke. In the last year Hannah has worked in house for Derbyshire County Council managing their property department and providing legal advice for their extra care project.

Rob Fawke joined as a banking partner having previously been a partner and head of the Corporate Banking team at Pannone LLP. Rob is a highly rated banking lawyer, with an excellent reputation and proven track record of acting for financial institutions and corporate borrowers on a wide range of complex finance transactions.

Steve Esmond joined as an employment partner. Steve joins from Nabarro having gained most of his experience at national firms including Hammonds and Shoosmiths.

Steve has also been a Partner at Simpson Miller LLP and Ison Harrison in Leeds. He advises PLCs, private companies and owner managed businesses of all sizes on the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment issues.

James Nichols joined as an insolvency and restructuring partner, having previously run his own specialist insolvency and restructuring practice for 6 years, in addition to 24 years experience as a partner at a national law firm.  Before joining the legal profession, James spent eight years working in the insolvency industry at KPMG and BDO Stoy Hayward

Speaking on the new recruits, founding partner Sarah Goulbourne said: “gunnercooke is a really exciting place to be right now, and we are delighted to welcome our new partners. They are all experts in their practice areas, which will continue to strengthen both our offering to clients and our brand.

"In the past few months, gunnercooke has secured some significant panel appointments, and this is undoubtedly owing to the quality of our growing partner group, and the way in which our model provides value to clients.

"Fifty partners was a big milestone for us to reach, and it’s really inspired us to look ahead.“

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Fairpoint Group plc, a provider of solutions to ‘financially stressed’ consumers, has announced that following approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, it has completed the acquisition of Leeds-based Simpson Millar LLP Solicitors.

Consideration for the acquisition has been satisfied by the initial payment of £7 million in cash and the issue of 1,415,529 new ordinary shares in the company to the selling shareholders of Simpson Millar.

The initial payment of £7 million in cash has been financed by a new, enlarged £20 million banking facility with AIB Group (UK) plc, as recently announced.

Further consideration of up to £6 million will be payable by Fairpoint based on the financial performance of Simpson Millar for two 12 month periods ending June 2015 and June 2016 (a maximum of £3 million will be payable in each 12 month period).

The Lancashire-based firm said that the transaction is "in line" with Fairpoint’s stated strategy of diversifying its income streams in adjacent markets such as legal services, where the Group can deploy its core skill of applying process to professional services.

Chris Moat, chief executive officer of Fairpoint, said: "We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of Simpson Millar, which represents an important step in diversifying our income streams into legal services, in line with our stated strategy.  

"Simpson Millar has already made significant progress in developing a powerful consumer offering, through the combination of strong legal skills with the innovative application of technology and legal processes.  

"From this solid platform, we look forward to working together to further develop the Group’s enlarged consumer-focused legal services business, accelerating the growth of the Group in this market and delivering enhanced earnings."

A builder from Hyde in Greater Manchester who illegally carried out gas work at two homes in the town has appeared in court after putting the lives of two families at risk.

Monwar Ali, 40, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found he had left a boiler at a house on Norbury Avenue in a condition classified as immediately dangerous.

A total of eight defects were also found with a boiler he installed on Harbour Farm Road. Both installations left the families living in the houses, which included young children, at risk of suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Mr Ali had been paid £21,000 to carry out a loft conversion at a house on Norbury Avenue in 2011.

As part of this work he removed the flue pipe connected to the boiler, despite not being qualified or registered to do this. He failed to replace the pipe for nearly two months, which meant fumes spilled back into the house.

When a gas engineer visited the property to carry out a routine annual check of the boiler in August 2011, he classified it as being immediately dangerous due to a high carbon monoxide reading and an incorrect flue pipe being used.

The homeowners had to get the boiler relocated downstairs with new pipework at an additional cost to them of nearly £500.

The HSE investigation found Mr Ali had also built a two-floor extension to a house on Harbour Farm Road during the same year. The written quote he provided for the work included the Gas Safe Register logo, wrongly giving the customer the impression he was able to carry out gas work.

Mr Ali was paid nearly £50,000 and moved the gas boiler on two occasions – first from the outhouse into the existing kitchen and then into the new kitchen in the extension. He also attempted to carry out repairs to the boiler in July 2011 when it broke down.

Monwar Ali received a community order requiring him to carry out 220 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months after pleading guilty to six breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 between 28 December 2010 and 31 August 2011. Mr Ali, of Syddall Street in Hyde, was also ordered to pay £2,000 towards prosecution costs during the hearing on 13 June 2014.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Ian Betley said: “Monwar Ali put the lives of two families at risk by working on gas boilers at two properties without the appropriate training and without being registered to work with gas.

“One of the boilers was found to be immediately dangerous and it’s only luck that no one was seriously harmed by carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Gas work has the potential to be extremely dangerous if it isn’t carried out by trained professionals. Mr Ali knew he wasn’t up to the job but he still took money for work he wasn’t qualified to do, putting profit before safety.“

Russell Kramer, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register, added: “One in five of the illegal gas jobs we investigate are found to be immediately dangerous. This means that the work could lead to a gas leak, fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning.

“It is vital therefore that people always make sure they only use a registered gas engineer. Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card, which shows who they are and the type of gas work they are qualified to do, so you can check if your engineer is legal and safe by asking for the card.“

Two companies have been sentenced for safety failings following the death of an elderly resident at a care home in Manchester.

Irene Sharples, 92, was living at Alexian Brothers Care Centre on St Mary’s Road in Moston when a heavy fire door fell on her during renovation work. She died just under four weeks later as a result of her injuries.

The Healthcare Management Trust and construction firm Rothwell Robinson Ltd were both prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found Mrs Sharples, who suffered from dementia, had been able to wander into a building site at the home.

Manchester Crown Court heard the Healthcare Management Trust Ltd, which runs the care home, had hired Rothwell Robinson Ltd to convert a ground floor bedroom and en-suite into two toilets and a store room.

The company began the work on 2 November 2010 and several tradesmen, including two joiners and a plumber, visited the site over the following days.

At around 7.30am on 7 November, staff at the care home heard a loud thud and a cry for help. When they went to investigate, they found Mrs Sharples on the floor inside the former ground floor bedroom with a fire door on top of her.

It took three people to lift the door off her and she suffered a broken hip. Mrs Sharples spent eight days in hospital but her condition deteriorated when she returned to the care home and she died on 2 December.

The HSE investigation found the healthcare firm and building company had both failed to make sure the room was locked at the end of each day and also when it was left unoccupied.

The fire door had been removed from the en-suite during the building work and leant against the wardrobes. Several other hazards were also spotted by the care home staff including loose skirting boards, exposed wiring, broken glass and rusty nails.

The court was told Mrs Sharples knew the resident who previously lived in the room and would occasionally walk into that room as she wandered around the care home.

The Healthcare Management Trust, of Queen Anne’s Gate in London, was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,500 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Rothwell Robinson Ltd, of Holyoake Road in Worsley, was fined £10,000 with costs of £7,500 after pleading guilty to the same offence.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Laura Moran said:“Both firms clearly knew there were vulnerable residents living at the care home but they still allowed the door to what was essentially a building site to be left unlocked on numerous occasions.

“Sadly, Mrs Sharples was severely injured when she wandered into the room, presumably looking for her friend, and ultimately lost her life because of the failings of the Healthcare Management Trust and Rothwell Robinson.

“Following the incident, the companies introduced a new procedure which meant workers had to collect and return a key at the start and end of each day, and lock the door when there was no one inside.

“If this system had been in place from the start of the building project then Mrs Sharples would never have been able to get into the room.“

A northern supply teaching agency, which operates offices in the North East, has been sold to teacher recruitment firm TES Global for an undisclosed sum.

Vision for Education, which has offices in Newcastle, Durham and Middlesbrough, has been acquired as part of TES’s strategy to diversify beyond permanent recruitment services.

It has seen the number of teachers it places per week double over the past two years as state sector spend on supply teaching has reached nearly £900 million per year in the UK.

The deal was lead by Sean FitzGerald, a partner in the Corporate team at law firm Ward Hadaway’s Manchester office.

Sean said: "We are delighted to have assisted Vision for Education on its sale to the leading player in the UK education recruitment sector.

"The management team at Vision for Education have been highly successful in growing the agency, which provides a valuable service to schools right across the North."

Darren McLaney, CEO of Vision for Education, said: "Sean and his team performed exceptionally well in providing timely, focused and clear advice on what is a significant move for the business.

"When looking for a partner to help support the growth of Vision For Education into the nation’s most recognised, highest quality provider of supply teachers and support staff, we were determined to find a company that shares our core values. With TES, we have the profession’s most admired brand."

Louise Rogers, CEO of TES Global, added: "When we first met Vision For Education, we knew we had found the perfect partner.

"The Vision team is determined to transform the UK supply industry by raising the status of supply teachers, and ensuring that both teachers and schools alike get a better deal and better results from both long and short-term supply placements. We at TES are honoured to join them in that mission."

Newcastle and Chester le Street-based Gordon Brown Law Firm has seen its commercial property department expand once again with the second appointment in just two months.

32-year-old Gwen Jones took up her new role in May as commercial property solicitor. Gwen – who is originally from Swansea but now lives in County Durham – joins recent recruit Paul Crawley in the commercial property team, which is headed up by Gordon Brown himself.

Gwen began her legal career with Ward Hadaway where she started out as a commercial property paralegal in 2007, and shortly after qualified as a commercial property solicitor in 2011 with Mincoffs Solicitors.

She said: “Since I first caught the commercial property bug, I’ve really enjoyed the variation that the role brings. I’ve been fortunate that I have already gained a wide range of experience in the sector, having dealt with commercial property matters for everything from individuals and local businesses to high street retail chains and financial institutions, and even public sector bodies and charities."

Tech firm skignz has recruited film and media broadcast production graduate Sarah Spowart, following help from Teesside University graduate scheme.

The University has developed eight-week internships to help North East SMEs make the most of graduate talent for short-term projects or to trial prospective new employees - with a view to longer-term employment.

Skignz co-founder Simon Brown explained why they took part in the new scheme, which funds 50% of salary costs through the European Regional Development Fund.

He said: “In my former companies I’ve always employed graduates - giving young people the opportunity to prove themselves has always been important to myself and co-founder Gary Baker.

“So when we were building the team and heard about the new graduate scheme it seemed a logical step to take someone on.“

Sarah added: “When I was at university I signed up to the careers bulletin to get the different graduate jobs.

“I finished university last year and I have been trying to get a job since then so I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity to show what I can do."

Accountancy firm Baker Tilly has appointed business turnaround specialist Allan Kelly as a Partner in its North East practice.

Allan, who joins Baker Tilly’s Restructuring and Recovery team, has over 20 years’ experience working with entrepreneurial, owner-managed and mid-market businesses across a number of sectors who are experiencing challenge or financial distress.

He has extensive experience in advising both business management and stakeholders such as banks, asset based lenders and equity funders in restructuring advisory and turnaround situations.

Allan has also worked in an executive capacity holding interim management roles within businesses during the turnaround phase.

Corporate lawyer Paul Bell has joined Newcastle based business law firm Short Richardson & Forth LLP as a partner.

Paul will head up the Corporate team at Short Richardson & Forth LLP, having moved from national firm DWF.

With over 25 years practice, Paul brings with him a detailed knowledge of the region’s corporate market.

Paul began his career in the City of London before joining Crutes, where he headed the firm’s Business Services department.

Following the merger between Crutes and DWF in early 2012 Paul led the DWF corporate team in Newcastle. 

David Richardson, senior partner of Short Richardson & Forth LLP, said “We are delighted that a lawyer of Paul’s calibre has joined us, to further strengthen and reinforce our offering as leading advisers to businesses in the region."

A law firm is continuing to build its residential conveyancing team with the appointment of three new solicitors – who have scotched any ideas of a house price bubble affecting the North East.

The experienced trio - Diane Lawton, Nicola Carroll and Chloe Conway Hind - have joined BHP Law’s growing conveyancing department as confidence returns to the housing market.

Nicola qualified 12 years ago and has worked for firms in Carlisle, North Shields, Newcastle and Chester-le-Street; Diane, who qualified in 1986, previously worked at a rural practice in North Yorkshire, at large city firms in Leeds and Newcastle and also handled negligence claims at the Solicitors’ Indemnity Fund; and Chloe, who will be based at BHP Law’s Darlington office, qualified in 2008 and has joined from a firm in Sunderland.

Law firm DWF has bolstered its employment offer in the North East with the appointment of senior associate, Stephen Cairns. Stephen joins DWF from Eversheds, where he also held the role of senior associate.

Stephen has expertise in handling high profile employment law cases, including advising public and private sector employers on high level HR issues as well as tribunal claims. 

He specialises in supporting employers with business restructuring through strategic consultation and mapping exercises to manage large scale redundancies, cross border TUPE transfers and changes to terms and conditions of employment. Much of this work has involved advice to businesses on international employment laws.

Mark Hammerton, national head of employment at DWF, said: “Stephen’s credentials in high profile, contentious and challenging employment cases will strengthen the firm’s offer in the North East, as well as broadening the capability of the firm’s existing 60-strong national employment team.

"Stephen is highly commercial and driven by operational excellence, ensuring he will play a key role in further supporting our clients.

"His appointment also forms an integral aspect of a wider investment programme across the region, in which DWF is enhancing its client offering through investing in people and technology, as well as a newly refurbished client suite, which is expected to be completed in July 2014.“