BIRKETTS is delighted to announce the arrival of solicitor Emma Gillam, who started at the firm this month.

Emma joins the commercial litigation team, based in Ipswich, which was recently praised in the renowned Chambers UK directory.

Emma specialises in commercial litigation and acts for both corporate and private clients, advising on a wide range of contractual disputes. As well as general dispute resolution work, Emma has experience of advising clients in relation to high value, complex litigation and fraud work.

Matthew Atkins, head of the commercial litigation team in Birketts’ Ipswich office, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Emma to the commercial litigation team in Ipswich, and are sure that Emma will deliver the measured and commercial advice to our clients for which the team is recognised.”

BUSINESSES in Aldeburgh, Leiston and Saxmundham received a boost today with the appointment of Annette Mason-Gordon to a new post of Project Coordinator for the Heritage Coast Market Towns Initiative (HCMTI).

Key areas of work for the new role include encouraging greater sustainability and promoting local trading, services and tourism. Annette will be working closely with partners Robert Foyers from Businesses of Saxmundham; Liz Biagioni from Aldeburgh Business Association; Jonny Newton from the Leiston Business Organisation; Barry Henson from Suffolk ACRE and Sonia Lambert from Suffolk Coastal District Council.

Born in Yorkshire, Annette has travelled widely throughout her career in the hospitality industry, with ten years enjoying the bright lights of London where she gained valuable experience at The Grosvenor House and the boutique hotel “22 Jermyn Street”. Looking for a challenge, Annette moved to South Africa where she met her husband, Philip, and managed a Game Lodge for five years. The birth of twins brought a slight change of career for Annette with a move to an event and destination management company in Oxfordshire; this is where she gained the particularly valuable experience which she brings to this position.

Annette Mason-Gordon, the new project coordinator, said: “I am delighted to have been appointed and am very excited about working with the board to the benefit of the communities as a whole. The hugely successful launch of the Little Black Book earlier in the year was a wonderful example of businesses working together to encourage inward investment. There are many more exciting projects in the pipeline and I look forward to seeing these through to completion to the benefit of all.”

CLYDESDALE Bank has appointed Richard Lee as an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) to further strengthen its private banking and wealth management teams in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Richard, who is based at the Bank’s Bury St Edmunds FSC, has worked in the financial services industry for almost a decade and qualified as an IFA in 2003. Prior to joining Clydesdale Bank, he worked as a Director at Lee Associates where he originally qualified, and before that he worked as a mortgage broker with Roger Lee & Associates. In his new role Richard will be working closely alongside Mike Suckling, Clydesdale Bank’s long-standing IFA for the region.

Richard said: “I joined Clydesdale Bank because its traditional people focused business approach allows me to spend time getting to know members to ensure that I give them the best advice to suit their individual needs.”

Andrew Pike, Managing Partner at Clydesdale Bank’s Financial Solutions Centres in Norfolk and Suffolk, said: “We are delighted to have Richard join us and he will further complement the great work that Mike already does.”

TURNSTONE Estates is stepping up its development activities and has recruited former Savills development director Tim Deacon to join its team.

Deacon, who joined Turnstone this week as a director, will play a key part in identifying and progressing development opportunities across East Anglia working alongside managing director Chris Goldsmith.

Deacon had worked at Savills since 1997 after graduating from Oxford Brookes University, initially starting on the company’s graduate programme. He moved to Savills Cambridge office in July 1999 where he specialised in retail and leisure development in the East of England. He had been a director since 2006 and was latterly head of the development team within the Cambridge office

Chris Goldsmith said: “There has been pronounced market recovery in our sphere of operation and occupational demand is strong. We are already active in a number of locations and funding in place for the right opportunities. Our focus will remain geographical rather than sectoral.”

Tim Deacon said: “I’m delighted to join Turnstone Estates who I have always recognised as the leading commercial developer in the east of England, having delivered over 1m sq ft of prime office and retail stock. I look forward to growing the development programme, in a market where I see occupier confidence improving and signs of secondary investment stock being priced correctly. This is the right time in the cycle for property development, but only for those with the necessary expertise and consistent track record of delivery.”

LEADING Essex law firm Thompson Smith & Puxon (TS&P) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Firmin Ltd as a new partner in the firm. Stephen Firmin, the director of Stephen Firmin Ltd, has joined the TS&P Business Services Team and brings the total number of partners at the expanding Colchester and Clacton-based firm to ten.

Stephen, for many years a partner at an established East Anglian firm, has over 15 years’ experience in company and commercial law and has also developed a particular expertise in commercial property. Stephen’s wide-ranging knowledge and experience mean that he is able to advise clients on achieving their objectives across a broad range of business activities. He has helped clients of differing sizes – from start-ups and family-businesses to large PLC’s – and from many and varied business sectors to achieve their business goals.

Stephen said: “I am delighted to be joining such a forward-thinking and dynamic firm. TS&P has a strong reputation for offering an effective service which combines city expertise with regional rates, and always puts the needs of the client first. I hope to play an important role in steering TS&P’s future and building further on its current success.”

Mary Anne Fedeyko, head of the TS&P business services team, said: “The commercial property team already acts for a wide range of clients across and beyond East Anglia. The wealth of experience and expertise that Stephen brings to the team will be a great asset, as we look to expand our company and commercial property presence in the region.”

JUSTIN Kett, 30, an award-winning chef with an impeccable reputation, has been appointed as head chef at the iconic 15th century Swan at Lavenham. He takes up his new position after spending three years in a similar post at the Swan’s sister hotel, The Brudenell, situated on the beachfront in Aldeburgh, on the Suffolk coast.

Both four-star hotels, privately-owned by award-winning group Thorpeness & Aldeburgh Hotels, have two AA rosettes, but Justin has far more ambitious ideas for The Swan and plans to take his career to a higher ech�lon. Prior to moving to the Brudenell, he worked as sous-chef at the renowned Castle Hotel at Taunton, which was bestowed a coveted Michelin Star and four AA Rosettes for its outstanding food; a level to which he aspires.

Looking forward to his new challenge, Justin said: “My aim is for people to come to this beautiful, iconic hotel to relax and enjoy some seriously good food, complemented by some fantastic wines and local ales”.

He also plans to identify some high quality local suppliers from which to source really fresh produce and thus reduce food miles; this is in line with the hotel’s environmental and sustainability ethos. “I relish the opportunity of incorporating some thematics to my new menus, which will be inspired by seasonality and locality. I firmly believe in working with the best quality produce to highlight its natural flavours,” added Justin.

The Swan is currently undergoing an exciting facelift to its ground floor reception, lounge and bar areas, which will see the completion of a two-year refurbishment programme. The highly respected Chelsea-based designer, Todhunter Earle, is currently creating a contemporary and stylish Brasserie, which opens this July. Justin’s intention is to provide guests with an eclectic choice of dining experiences, each of which will reflect in his menus. Brasserie dishes will be informal, yet beautifully presented, whilst his � la carte menu, served in the elegant AA two rosette Gallery Restaurant, will take on a degree of understated sophistication. Justin is enthused by his new tasting menu, which will showcase the very best of his signature dishes, matched by an extensive and carefully selected wine list. The Swan has a long-established reputation for the traditional afternoon teas with which it has enticed many a generation over the years, but Justin’s aim is to incorporate a little finesse into this, one of the country’s greatest pleasures.