Movers and shakers: New managing partner at RSM’s Bury St Edmunds office

Outgoing managing partner Stephen Duffety will step down on the same day after 15 years in post. He will continue as an RSM partner until the end of 2017 to ensure a smooth transition for clients and staff.

Laragh has been an RSM partner since January, having joined from Cambridge-based firm PEM. She has advised a diverse range of clients throughout her career including AIM-listed companies, multi-national groups, owner-managed businesses and not for profit organisations.

In her new role, Laragh will drive the firm’s growth strategy in the East Anglia region as it seeks to become the undisputed leading advisory firm to the middle market in the region, with a strong bias towards private and corporate tax, audit and advisory services.

The firm, which has 10 partners in Bury St Edmunds, has already established a strong base in its targeted growth area of tax. The recent appointments of Paul Harris from Grant Thornton to lead its growing private client team, and Andrew Robinson, from BDO, to add further strength to its corporate tax team, expands its regional advisory offer.

The firm will also look to grow its more established audit and accounting teams. Furthermore, it will draw on Laragh’s experience of the Cambridgeshire area to gain further market share.

Mark Taylor, regional managing partner for the central region at RSM, the growth of the team in East Anglia was “hugely important” part of the firm’s wider business strategy.

“Whilst we wish Stephen all the best in his future endeavours and thank him for his long and valued service - he has indeed been a hugely significant part of our growth story - I very much look forward to working with Laragh to grow the team and our brand presence locally.

“She is the perfect fit to drive our ambitions. Her broad experience is invaluable to RSM’s existing clients in the region, and will continue to ensure we offer the region’s leading service. Her knowledge of the Cambridgeshire market will also be vital in helping to establish, bolster and grow our presence in this key market.”

Laragh said: “These are exciting times for RSM in Bury St Edmunds and the wider East Anglia region. I look forward to taking on this important role.

“I inherit from Stephen a very strong and ambitious team. Our growth strategy will draw upon that will and vision to grow, by strengthening our established market leading sector and service lines, whilst expanding our targeted growth areas with an emphasis on tax advisory.

“Geographically, the Cambridgeshire market forms an important part of our strategic growth plan. I feel my own knowledge and experience of that market will lend itself well to what we want to achieve there.”

Ipswich-based law firm Birketts has taken on 12 new trainee solicitors.

The appointments represent the firm’s annual trainee intake at its Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich offices.

The trainees and their respective first departments at Birketts are: Hassam Ahmed (Corporate/Commercial), Molly Barker (Property Litigation), Benjamin Clarke (Corporate/Commercial), Lucy Edwards (Wills and Advisory), Charlotte Nayler (Commercial Property), Emma Rees (Commercial Property), Roseanne Shipp (Residential Development), Sebastian Taylor (Commercial Litigation), Jessamy Warren (Agriculture), Rose Willis (Commercial Property), Roger Watson (Construction and Engineering) and Georgia Wright (Commercial Property).

Chief executive Jonathan Agar said: “Over the years we have built an unrivalled reputation for providing high quality legal advice and client service.

“This year’s intake joins us on the back of the firm reporting a record turnover of £42.4m for the last financial year and at a time when the firm is growing at pace.

“As we continue to grow it is essential that we ensure our trainees provide us with talented and ambitious lawyers to advise businesses, institutions and individuals in the UK and internationally.”

Human resources director Shaun Savory said the firm had increased its annual trainee intake in response to the firm’s growth.

“While we recruit externally where necessary our most reliable source of talent comes from the firm’s structured graduate recruitment and trainee training programmes.

“Trainees at Birketts occupy four ‘seats’, with each one lasting six months, to ensure that they develop their legal skills and find the practice area that best suits their skills and interests.”

Suffolk law firm Gotelee has welcomed an experienced commercial property lawyer to its new Woodbridge office. Commercial property associate Emma Cracknell has more than 20 years’ experience in the area and advises investors, developers, funders and pension schemes on a broad range of commercial property transactions. She brings speed, efficiency and much experience to help those in the area.

“I am delighted to be joining the highly regarded commercial property team at Gotelee,” she said.

“I look forward to working with the firm’s clients from the Woodbridge office and supporting my new colleagues as the team continues to grow.”

Emma’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Gotelee, which last year reached an agreement to merge with parts of Suffolk Coastal law firm Margary + Miller. It means that Margary + Miller’s offices in Woodbridge, Melton and Felixstowe will now operate under the Gotelee banner.

Gotelee chief executive Officer Charles Rowett said: “The new Woodbridge office is going from strength to strength and the addition of Emma means we can meet the growing needs of the community.”

Kerseys Solicitors has promoted two of its team members to become partners in the firm.

Thara Thangavel, who works in the private client department, and family solicitor Janet Raeburn have been recognised for their commercial contribution to the company’s success.

Managing partner Anthony Wooding said: “Thara and Janet are assets to the company. They both bring in new clients and their professionalism helps to maintain customer loyalty.

“They bring a range of experience to the firm and this promotion recognises their contribution to our continuing success.”

Thara, who joined the firm in 2008 and became an associate five years later, specialises in wills, trust and estate administration, court of protection work, powers of attorney and inheritance tax planning.

Thara said: “I’m delighted to become a partner in the firm and to play an active role in Kerseys Solicitors’ future.”

Janet joined the firm, which is based at Lloyds Avenue in Ipswich and Colchester Business Park in Colchester, in 2011. She became an associate in 2015.

Janet advises on a range of family law issues, including children matters, cohabitation issues, divorce, and financial issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship.

She said: “It’s an honour to receive such recognition for our hard work and commitment. I look forward to being a part of Kerseys as the firm moves forward.”

The innovative and dynamic law law firm, which was established in 1881, has become a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) to further streamline the business.

The term ‘partner’ now refers to a member of Kerseys Solicitors LLP and to an employee with equivalent standing and qualifications.

Southwold pubs, hotels and brewery business Adnams has appointed Ross Bott as executive head chef at The Swan in Southwold, following a major investment to transform the hotel into a world-class destination.

He will oversee The Swan’s two new restaurants, The Still Room and The Tap Room.

Ross most recently worked alongside renowned chef Atul Kochhar as his Head Chef, helping him to establish his new Hawkyns Restaurant & Bar in Amersham earlier this year. This follows a career that began at the three Michelin Star restaurant La Tante Claire, under French chef Pierre Koffmann.

Ross also helped to set-up fine dining restaurant Paris House in Milton Keynes before moving to Marlow to work as sous chef to Adam Simmonds, of Great British Menu fame, at Danesfield House. At the Macdonald Compleat Angler, Ross and his team were set the task of getting the restaurant Three Rosettes and did so in just 11 months.

“I’m really excited to get started at The Swan and be part of such an ambitious project to create the best hotel and restaurant in the area,” he said.

“We want to put the best plate of food possible in front of our guests. We are lucky to be on the doorstep of some genuinely world-class producers in Suffolk that will sit side-by-side with the best ingredients from across the country and beyond.”

The kitchen will be taking in whole carcasses that will be broken down to use every part of the animal.

“I want each member of our team to grow and develop together, taking on new ideas and techniques that will help them develop their own skills,” said Ross.

The Swann general manager Lyndon Barrett-Scott, General Manager at The Swan said he was thrilled at the appointment.

“The Swan will provide impeccable service that gives visitors a truly memorable stay and having Ross on board ensures this experience extends into the dining room and onto the plate,” he said.

The Still Room and The Tap Room are set to open alongside the hotel on October 12.

Ashtons Legal has become the first East Anglian based law firm to employ a medically trained former case manager and a former police family liaison officer, Caroline Trinder and Emma-Jane Smith, to support the work done by its catastrophic personal and medical injury teams across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Caroline is a registered nurse with significant experience in serious injury rehabilitation having worked as a rehabilitation case manager for nine years and as a client liaison manager for three years.

In her new role, she will ensure clients receive adequate support and therapies following serious injuries in the interim period between the injury occurring and financial compensation being obtained.

Caroline works closely with local services, NHS teams, private health care professionals and charities and is a member of CMSUK (Case Management Society of the UK), BABICM (British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers), and UKRC (United Kingdom Rehabilitation Council).

Emma-Jane (EJ) Smith joined Ashtons in 2017. She was previously a special constable and then a police constable with Suffolk Constabulary before joining the Specialist Operations Unit on the ANPR Intercept Team and then the Roads Policing and Firearms Operations Unit, working in Norfolk and Suffolk. With previous experience as a family liaison officer in the Roads Policing Unit, Emma has worked with families who have suffered bereavement or serious injury in a road traffic collision, providing support for families and assistance for the duration of the police investigation.

She has extensive experience in investigating road traffic collisions and an excellent understanding of road traffic legislation, receiving awards in recognition of her investigative work and this experience assists her in her role which involves working closely with the police, partnership agencies and charities to support Ashtons’ clients.

Richard Foyster, who heads the personal injury team, said: “Adding Caroline and EJ to our team has vastly increased the levels of proactive support that we are able to give in the early days after an incident before the full legal process has had a chance to deliver results.”