Fosters Solicitors has appointed Leanne Craske as business development manager.

Leanne brings a wealth of experience gained from the insurance sector to the firm, which has offices in Bungay, Lowestoft, Norwich and Wymondham. She has more than seven years’ marketing and business development experience, including qualifications gained through both the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Direct & Digital Marketing.

Leanne said she was “delighted” to join.

“While not coming from a legal background, my experience gained will allow me to look at the firms marketing & business development activities with a fresh pair of eyes, helping to shape and implement the future strategy of the firm,” she said.

Chief executive Chris Brown said: “In 2011/12 we won the Marketing & Business Development category in the Law Society Excellence Award. The strategy we put forward then defined the development of the practice over the next five years.

“In order to build upon these past achievements and ensure our future development strategies it is essential we have the right staff with new and exciting talents that can help us achieve this. Leanne is one of those people and we are very excited to have her on board.”

::Attwells Solicitors has appointed four new team members following a period of ongoing growth.

The firm, which is made up of experts in employment and property law, has welcomed new team members to its expanding conveyancing department, as well as two new trainees to its head office in Ipswich.

Representing the firm’s annual intake of trainees, Rhys Craddock, 23, and Rebekah Crockford, 24, have joined the team on training contracts.

Senior partner, Nick Attwell, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our two new trainees, Rhys and Rebekah, who have begun their training contracts with us. As a firm, we’re committed to progression, and progress can only be made by assembling a talented team, which is why we put so much emphasis on our trainee recruits.”

Rebekah said she had chosen Attwells because of its traditional values combined with a modern approach.

“I feel that I fit in with their values and really look forward to be a part of the firm’s progression,” she said.

Rhys said he was “thrilled” to be part of the firm.

“I’m lucky to be part of such a skilled and dedicated team,” he said.

Attwells has 6 training contracts available at any one time and due to continuing growth, the firm are keen to recruit new trainees into the company.

Ritah Nyakupinda and Serena Ely have both joined the conveyancing department, Ritah as conveyancing executive and Serena as post completions clerk.

Nick said: “We’re experiencing an exciting period of growth at Attwells and we are thrilled to have welcomed both Ritah and Serena to our busy and expanding conveyancing department. Both have solid experience and will be able to add to our first class client service.”

::Steve Hart has joined the expanding team at Gipping Construction, based in Baylham, near Ipswich.

Steve, who has been appointed as contracts manager, has spent more than 30 years in the industry in similar roles, initially at Sadler & Sons of Ipswich. He has advanced his career to manage many multi million pound projects throughout East Anglia in healthcare, housing and education with private and public sector clients.

Steve said he was “delighted” to have joined the team at Gipping.

“I share their values and am already enjoying working with such a professional and experienced team on some exciting projects including a school project in Colchester, a multi-million pound private house near Martlesham and two schemes for housing associations in Essex,” he said.

“The honest, friendly and positive approach to construction taken by Gipping is a refreshing model for our industry. The craftsmen and operatives at this award-winning company are good to work with.”

Managing director Chris McEwen said: “I am delighted that Steve has agreed to join Gipping. I have known and respected him for about 15 years and know that his experience and wisdom will be appreciated by our clients.”

Steve enjoys relaxing in rural England and the occasional round of golf in Felixstowe.

::Recruitment firm Waddington Brown has appointed Joanne Matsell to spearhead its strategic, non-HR recruitment services.

Joanne joins the firm, which has its head office at Claydon in Ipswich, as a senior consultant to lead the strategic, senior appointments for its clients across East Anglia. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the recruitment industry and will support clients in identifying business-critical professionals for senior, strategic positions outside of the HR function.

Prior to joining Waddington Brown, she was a director and managing consultant for Beresford Kane Associates, where she worked with key clients to offer advice and manage their complete recruitment needs.

At Waddington Brown, she will source senior, strategic appointments through both traditional recruitment methods and an executive search approach, which will be focused on matching the common aspirations and goals for both the client and candidates.

“I started in recruitment back in 1989 and, to this day, I still get a real buzz from helping clients find someone that will shape their business and make a real impact,” she said.

“It is very motivating to now use my experience at Waddington Brown and to work consultatively alongside dynamic HR directors who are shaping their organisations; not only by developing existing team members, but through sourcing business-critical strategic professionals.”

Emma Gunton, co-founder and director of Waddington Brown, said: “Joanne’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to support clients with the sourcing of senior, strategic professionals outside of the HR function.

“Joanne’s extensive experience in recruitment and confidential approaching complements our sole agency approach to recruitment; it means we get to know our clients’ businesses inside and out and, as such, work consultatively with the HR team to identify the right candidate, for the right role, at all levels. Joanne greatly complements the existing team here at Waddington Brown and we all extend a very warm welcome.”

::A solicitor with a wealth of digital marketing expertise is set to offer specialist advice on web-related matters to ensure businesses stay the right side of the law and protect their own interests after rejoining his old law firm.

Stephen Avila, 40, has joins Essex-based Birkett Long after selling his own digital marketing company, Surge Digital.

The entrepreneur, from Colchester, is an expert in intellectual property and e-commerce and set up his business in January 2009 while remaining as a consultant for Birkett Long.

Stephen said: “All businesses have intellectual property that they should be protecting: from a trading name to a brand and identity, creative ideas to concepts.

“These are all valuable assets that cost a lot of money, but it’s amazing how many businesses don’t protect those assets, nor put in place a privacy policy.”

Having run his own business, he can easily identify with the stresses business owners may be facing, he said.

“Anyone who does business through a website needs to be aware of the legal obligations they are under, not just how to protect themselves from copycats. It is vital to get it right.”

Stephen said e-commerce had always been a passion of his which led him to start his own business.

“I’m so happy to have returned to Birkett Long and be in a position to share all my knowledge with our clients,” he said.