Toby Kramers of Ellisons Solicitors is to be based permanently at the firm’s Ipswich office with effect from this month.

Mr Kramers, a commercial property specialist and a partner at the firm, has been established in the Ipswich market for many years.

On joining Ellisons in 2014 he joined the team at its Colchester office as the firm did not at that time have an Ipswich office. Sine then, however, an Ipswich office has not only been launched but has expanded three times.

Mr Kramers said: “I am very pleased to be moving to the Ipswich office this December, an office which is going from strength to strength. The commercial property department is expanding all the while due to client demand and so I am delighted to be joining such a strong team in Ipswich.”

Ellisons’ commercial property team now consists of seven Partners and 14 other lawyers, split across both the Ipswich and Colchester offices.

•Ipswich-based Prettys Solicitors has marked the long service of nine members of staff who have completed 20 or more years with the firm.

They include three who have reached their 30th anniversary this year– senior partner Ian Waine, who is head of the corporate and commercial team, Peter Blake, partner and head of dispute resolution, and Jane Hayward, real estate secretary.

Others recognised for long standing service include: Georgie Hall, partner and head of family and private client, Matthew Cole, partner and employment law specialist, and Matthew Reeve, facilities, (all with 27 years), Sandra Yellop, health and safety and personal injury secretary (26 years), Elaine King, family secretary (25 years) and Rachel Fortnum Adams, compliance manager (20 years).

Ian Carr, chief executive at Prettys, said: “I am delighted to mark these special anniversaries with my colleagues. While many of the issues facing businesses have changed over the years, it is wonderful to see that the passion from our staff and their commitment to their clients remains as it was when they first joined.”

Last month, Prettys announced a restructuring of its service offering to align its specialist departments into broader commercial and private client teams.

The two service lines will be led by newly-created client service leads, Matthew Cole for commercial and Georgie Hall for private client.

•A Suffolk PR firm recently recognised by the Chartered Institute of PR as Outstanding Small Agency of the Year for the Thames, Chiltern and Anglia region, has expanded, with two new appointments.

Prominent, based in Ipswich, has welcomed Angharad Pearce and Emily Grimes to the team, bringing the team number to seven.

Angharad joins the team as an account manager, bringing with her substantial experience within the built environment sector after having spent three years at an Essex marketing agency.

Emily joins as an account executive having spent several years working at a London-based magazine and brings with her experience in digital marketing, event management and social media.

Managing director Helen Rudd said: “2017 has been an incredible year for Prominent and we have secured a number of prestigious clients as well as award wins.

“I am personally thrilled to bring Angharad into the team having worked with her before in a previous role and excited to see what she can bring to the team.

“Emily’s experience of working in London for a well-known magazine will stand her in good stead as she builds her PR career with us.

“The business has seen significant growth year on year since we set it up in 2014 and this year is set to continue that upward trend. It’s a very exciting time for us.”

•The University of Essex Law Clinic has welcomed a new director and unveiled a five-year plan to make free legal advice services available to more people and businesses in the local community.

Professor Donald Nicolson, who was awarded an OBE in 2011 for his work at highly successful law clinics at the universities of Strathclyde and Bristol, has already successfully recruited 80 new Essex students to the advice team since his arrival this term.

The Essex Law Clinic has been providing free legal advice to members of the public and staff and students at the University since 2008.

Over the next five years Prof Nicolson expects to expand the team of student volunteers to more than 300, and develop new services including online advice, a business law clinic, partnerships with organisations focusing on LGBTQ+ issues, and fostering relationships with local solicitors to better serve vulnerable communities.

Prof Nicolson said: “Clinics are recognised for their value, not only to the community at large, but to each new generation of lawyers. I am looking forward to seeing this potential being realised at Essex.”

Student-led law clinics provide essential services to those in need of legal advice and also equip students with skills crucial to their future careers.

The Essex Law Clinic provides confidential consultations and advice on landlord and tenant disputes, freehold and leasehold disputes, employment issues, consumer issues, equality issues, benefits advice, contracts, and negligence.

New offices for the Essex Law Clinic, and the University’s Human Rights Clinic, were opened at the Colchester Campus a year ago by Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer MP.

•McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading retirement housebuilder, has appointed of Brendon O’Neill as its south divisional managing director as part of a new operational structure.

Mr O’Neill will take responsibility for the company’s Southern, South East and North London regions with the effect from January 1, reporting to John Tonkiss, chief operating officer.

Clive Fenton, chief executive of McCarthy & Stone, said: “This appointment will support our growth objectives to establish a business capable of building and selling more than 3,000 units per year.

“The move to a divisional structure reflects the investment we are putting in place to run an efficient business at scale and will allow us to capitalise on the substantial growth opportunities in retirement housing.

“With significant talent in our company, I am delighted that we have been able to recruit internally for the role. Brendon is an excellent operator with a wealth of industry experience and I am pleased to see him take on responsibility for managing our regional business. He has made an excellent contribution to the company since joining and this promotion reflects the success achieved in his region.”

Mr O’Neill added: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of South Divisional Managing Director, and look forward to driving opportunities for strategic, long-term growth in our already successful region.

“I look forward to working with the talented teams across the Southern, South East and North London areas as we extend our impressive portfolio of developments here.

“Our new structure will allow us to provide even more customers in the region with the opportunity to live in our stunning high-specification apartments in attractive and convenient locations.”