People: Azets: Clarke Willmott; arch.law sports; Curtins; Express Solicitors; Identity Consult; Ward Hadaway; Rapleys; Cowgills

By Pune Media On Sep 10, 2025

Payroll specialist, Julie Gunnell, has been promoted to associate director of growth payroll at accountancy and business advisory firm, Azets.

She is one of three staff promoted to its UK payroll services team to newly created roles in the business.

Her expanded remit will cover clients across the North West, where Azets operates offices in Burnley, Bolton, Lancaster, Manchester, Preston, Shrewsbury, St Asaph and Stockport.

A full member of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), Julie, who was previously associate director payroll at Azets, has more than 20 years’ experience in delivering high quality payroll solutions.

She said: “We pride ourselves on helping businesses streamline clients’ payroll processes while staying fully compliant with ever-evolving legislation.”

Stephen Abbotts, director of payroll services at Azets UK, said: “Julie’s promotion highlights the quality of our people and our culture of rewarding high performers, and our continued growth and the emphasis we place on planning for the future.”

Imogen Templeman

Clarke Willmott has strengthened its national employment law offering with the appointment of associate, Imogen Templeman, who has joined the team led by partner Louise Rogers in the firm’s Manchester office.

Louise advises employers, HR professionals and senior executives across all aspects of employment law, with a strong focus on the banking and financial services, technology and media sectors.

The addition of Imogen represents a significant step in the continued growth of Clarke Willmott’s Manchester-based employment practice.

Imogen said: “I am excited to join the employment team at Clarke Willmott and to support Louise Rogers with the further growth of the team’s employment offering in Manchester as well as nationally.”

Louise Rogers said: “Her expertise and pragmatic approach further strengthen our ability to support clients with the full range of employment law challenges.”

Robert Huth (credit LCFC)

Premier League winner, Robert Huth, has been appointed as an ambassador by arch.law sports for its growing sports division following the launch of the new agency earlier this month.

Central defender Huth, who will be based in Manchster, enjoyed a distinguished playing career at the highest level, winning the Premier League three times – twice with Chelsea and once with Leicester City.

He also represented Germany at international level, appearing in major tournaments, before retiring from professional football in 2019.

As ambassador, he will help bridge the gap between the realities of professional sport and the legal and management support that arch.law sports provides.

He will work closely with the arch.law sports agents and legal experts to support athletes, clubs and organisations in navigating the complex legal landscape of modern sport.

His insight and experience ensure that arch.law sports services remain practical, relevant and athlete-focused.

CEO, Andrew Leaitherland, said: “Rob’s appointment is a significant step forward for arch.law sports. His credibility, network and lived experience as a top level athlete will help us connect more meaningfully with the sporting community. We’re delighted to welcome him on board.”

Robert Huth said: “I’m excited to join arch.law sports and contribute to a team that’s genuinely committed to supporting athletes beyond the pitch. Legal support in sport alongside traditional management is more important than ever, and I’m looking forward to helping shape how arch.law delivers that.”

Phil Thomas

Liverpool-based engineering consultancy, Curtins, has appointed Phil Thomas as regional director.

Phil succeeds Phil Winterburn, who launched Curtins’ environmental specialism over two decades ago and retired in July 2025 after a distinguished career.

Phil Thomas brings a wealth of experience from RPS (latterly Tetra Tech following takeover). There he led a ground condition team, delivering support to land transactions, planning, permitting and redevelopment across the UK.

His portfolio includes some of the UK’s most iconic infrastructure projects – Wembley Stadium, Heathrow Terminal 5 and the redevelopment of Ironbridge Power Station. He has played a pivotal role in advancing the green energy and data revolutions, contributing to major initiatives such as Pembroke Net Zero Centre, Romford Data Centre, and the Newhaven and Javelin Park Sustainable Energy Plants, alongside numerous solar, hydrogen and BESS projects.

He said: “Curtins is ideally positioned to provide an agile and client-focused approach to consultancy, which presents real opportunity for growth and success – that really excites me.”

Curtins’ environmental portfolio spans both public and private sectors, with recent projects including North Manchester General Hospital, Bidder Street Data Centre, Swansea Arena, Hind Street Garden City Village in Birkenhead, Stansted Airport Northside and other nationally significant infrastructure schemes.

Some of the Express Solicitors promotions

Express Solicitors, the Manchester-based personal injury specialist, has again confirmed its commitment to employee development with its annual promotions.

As many as 65 staff members have been promoted in varying departments. In Ontime Reports, a sister company of Express and part of the overall total, 14 employees have been promoted.

CEO, James Maxey, said: “This year marks the 25th anniversary of Express Solicitors and this latest round of promotions clearly demonstrates that we continue to promote from within. Building on that talent this year we’ve welcomed new staff from HNK Solicitors and Graham Coffeys & Co Solicitors and doubled our graduate training cohort.

“Congratulations to all those deserving employees who have been recognised this year, it’s all as a result of hard work and their unwavering commitment to helping injured people.”

Among those promoted are two principal partners who have stepped up to be heads of department, two further new principal partners, and nine new partners.

Partner promotions include: Sarah Mawdsley and Jonathan Flattery, partner and head of department (PL dept); Sarah Fowden and Alex Summerscales, principal partner (costs); David Dean, Stephanie Osborne, Timothy Fieldhouse, partner (employers’ liability); Katryn Mercer, partner (occupiers’ and public liability); Philip Bradbury and Kris Mohindra, partner (costs); Steven Cullen, partner (RTA); Ross Cronie, partner/barrister (advocacy); Alison Lawton, partner (marketing & communications).

Five employees have become senior associate solicitors, nine are now senior associates, there are four new associate solicitors and five staff have risen to associate level (non-legal).

The trainee total is up from 76 in September 2024 to 125 this September.

Various other promotions were confirmed in the HR team, the new client team and the marketing and communications team, along with other departments both legal and non-legal.

Chief HR officer, Carole Jones, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all the talent we have across Express – now made up of over 800 people – and we can happily say we are a Best Companies ‘Outstanding’ company to work for.”

L-R: Tristan Saunders, Chris Allsop, Grace Hornsby, Alex Atkinson, Fern Pritchard, Scott Campbell

North West consultancy, Identity Consult, has made a series of key appointments, strengthening its leadership team in the region, with a new director joining the business and another being promoted from within.

With offices in Salford and Preston, IC has seen significant growth across the region, with its bottom line increasing by 40% year-on-year.

Among the new appointments is Tristan Saunders, who joins as director of project management. Based at IC’s Salford office, Tristan will oversee a wide ranging portfolio of projects including major commissions for Stockport Council/Network Space including Cheadle Eco Village, along with a series of Higher Education projects with Salford University and University of Manchester.

Tristan said: “Joining Identity Consult at such an exciting point in its journey is a real privilege. I’m proud to be helping lead projects that not only raise standards in design and delivery, but that truly support the communities they serve.”

Tristan is joined by Chris Allsop, who has been promoted to director of quantity surveying, bringing extensive experience to IC’s growing cost consultancy division where he is continuing to deliver high profile projects for Salford City Council and Trafford Council, along with leading the refurbishment of a number of listed buildings including Touchstones in Rochdale.

The news follows several other strategic hires and promotions, including Grace Hornsby who joined as associate over the summer who is currently working with Muse on the Farmer Norton development as part of Crescent Salford, and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council on the Denton Town Centre LUF regeneration schemes. Grace has previously worked on a variety of projects, including residential, educational and industrial across the North West.

Faizal Patel has been promoted to senior quantity surveyor while Fern Pritchard has been promoted to senior consultant PM, and Scott Campbell has joined as an apprentice project manager having previously been a T-Level student with Muse Developments – a long standing IC client – where he had been supporting project delivery.

Alex Atkinson, director of Identity Consult in the North West, said: “We’re firmly focused on growth and investment in the region – not just in terms of projects, but in the people who make them happen. These new appointments allow us to enhance our client offer and ensure we remain at the forefront of delivering innovative, high quality developments across the North West.”

Identity Consult now employs 69 colleagues across five UK offices.

L-R: Lauryn Chan, Daniel Adcock-Kirsh, Faraz Naqvi, Liz Bottrill, Richard Bradbury

Top 100 law firm, Ward Hadaway, has appointed six legal specialists across its Manchester office.

The new hires join departments including commercial litigation, real estate and construction. They include a partner, managing associate, associate, solicitor, conveyancer and paralegal.

The appointments include Richard Bradbury (partner, real estate), Daniel Adcock-Kirsh (managing associate, commercial litigation), Amy Platt (solicitor, commercial litigation), Faraz Naqvi (associate, construction), Arshad Jokhia (conveyancer, plot sales) and Lauryn Chan (paralegal, residential conveyancing).

Liz Bottrill, executive partner in Ward Hadaway’s Manchester office, said: “Manchester is a vibrant hub for business and legal services and we’re committed to investing in talent to reflect the opportunities here. These appointments strengthen our office across key practice areas ensuring we can continue to meet client demand and support the region’s fast-growing economy.”

Daniel Adcock-Kirsh, managing associate in the commercial litigation team, said: “Joining Ward Hadaway has been a fantastic opportunity to become part of a firm that is ambitious for growth while also deeply rooted in the regions it serves.

“The Manchester office has an excellent reputation and it’s exciting to contribute to a team that works closely with colleagues across the firm to deliver outstanding results for clients.”

Simon Harbour and Paul Hayes

Strategic property consultancy, Rapleys, has launched a ‘Measured Surveys and Geomatics’ service as it continues to expand as part of its ongoing growth plans.

Rapleys has recruited Paul Heyes as a partner to lead the team who brings with him more than 25 years’ experience. Paul joins from Hollis and will be based in Rapleys’ Manchester office.

Measured surveys are often required to help a client make informed decisions about their asset. They are also undertaken to confirm accurate area measurements critical in property transactions and lease renewals.

Simon Harbour, national head of building surveying at Rapleys, said: “Rapleys has been growing the business strategically for the last three years, focussed on where we can strengthen teams around core services, and where we can add new expertise to anticipate client demand.

“We identified Measured Surveys as one of these key services we could offer to support client requirements across developments and projects and we are delighted that Paul has joined the team to lead on it.”

Paul Heyes said: “Rapleys has one of the leading building consultancy teams in the industry and I am excited to bring my experience and skills to the business and play a part in their ongoing growth story.”

In the wider business, Rapleys acquired the retail team from Avison Young and added five new senior planning experts to its Manchester office. In total the business has added 13 new partners in 2025 so far.

L-R: Keeley Lord, Craig Johns, Janette Elliott

North West accountancy and business advisory firm, Cowgills, has strengthened its Business Recovery team with the appointment of a new director.

Keeley Lord joins the team as an insolvency practitioner after 16 years with Begbies Traynor. A Fellow of the ACCA, Keeley qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2014 and brings extensive expertise in corporate insolvency, restructuring, and turnaround strategies.

Her appointment comes at a time of significant growth for the Business Recovery team, following the recruitment of Steve Marshall as a case administrator and the promotions of Janette Elliott to director and Hannah Brown to assistant manager earlier this year.

Craig Johns, partner at Cowgills, said: “Keeley brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record, and a broad range of specialisms that will allow us to support even more businesses across the North West and beyond.”

Keeley said: “Cowgills has an outstanding reputation in the region, and I’m excited to join at such a pivotal time in their growth journey. I’m looking forward to working with the team to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.”

Further bolstering its expansion, Cowgills recently completed the acquisition of Wigan-based accountancy practice NRB, increasing its total headcount to more than 250 employees across the region.

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