Solicitor Samantha Ellis has joined the family team at Essex law firm Birkett Long.

The 36-year-old has spent the past 14 years with a smaller firm with offices based along the east coast, where she also lives.She studied at London’s College of Law for her Legal Practice course while working at her day job as a criminal litigation assistant.

At Birkett Long, which has offices in Chelmsford, Colchester and Basildon, she is specialising mainly in the financial aspect of separation.

She said: “A break up is a traumatic experience and I aim to guide and assist clients through the difficulties and emotional challenges involved.

“When couples separate there is the inevitable separation of their finances, which can be difficult for all concerned; I aim not only to provide legal advice but compassion and support throughout the process.”

Samantha is also a member of Resolution, the organisation that promotes non-confrontational solutions to family problems, and says that most cases achieve settlement by constructive negotiation, saving costs for everyone involved.

: : Ipswich Land Rover service centre Lindacre has appointed Sean Reeve as its new service manager.

Sean, who has more than 14 years’ experience in the vehicle industry, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the company.

“It is with great excitement I join Lindacre Land Rover as the service manager,” he said. “This is a key moment for Lindacre as we look to further drive the service department forward, building long term partnerships with our customers giving them peace of mind when having their vehicle serviced.”

In 2001 Sean started working at Hunters Land Rover in Norwich as a technician. After four years at Hunters, he decided to start his own business and opened his own garage. He then went back to Hunters in 2010 as a workshop controller, before joining Jack Richards Haulage as a service manager for a year.

Sean, who lives in Diss with his wife and two children, previously spent eight years living in Hong Kong working for the Porsche Race Team.

: : Trevor Dempsey has joined Linden Homes Eastern in the role of regional managing director, having joined the company from Bovis where he was a managing director.

He said he was familiar with both Linden Homes and its parent company, Galliford Try, and had wanted to work for the company for some time.

“I covered the Central region for Bovis,” he said. “It was a pretty large area which included the East and West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. We delivered 800 to 900 completions a year. Before that I was at Kier, where I established Kier Living, a national developer/contractor.

“Galliford Try has the national coverage and expertise to taken on any project, and Linden Homes is a company that has recently grown organically into the market place and not at any cost. I admire that.

“The focus at Linden remains on customer satisfaction and quality which is a different outlook to some of our peers.”

Trevor’s role will be to oversee all regional operations, including land buying, building, sales, design and quality.

He added: “I want to concentrate on family homes, which would mean developing more three, four and five bedroom family houses. I want our business to utilise the successful ‘Linden Layouts’ which have received great feedback from families around the country.”

Trevor, 36, is married with two children. He currently lives in Lincolnshire but is planning to move to Chelmsford where his wife, Keri, is originally from.

: : Essex and Suffolk law firm Ellisons Solicitors has announced the appointment of Lee Pearce as head of its dispute resolution department.

Lee has worked for Ellisons for more than 20 years, progressing from legal executive to equity partner.

The dispute resolution cepartment encompasses civil, commercial and property litigation, and Lee will head a team of six lawyers and support staff from the firm’s Colchester office.

Lee said: “I am very pleased to take over the reins of the dispute resolution team. I’m looking forward to working more closely with the great team of lawyers we have here, and expanding on the strong client base that we already have.”

As a property litigator, Lee acts for a wide range of clients including property investment companies, portfolio owners, property owners, occupiers and individuals.

He has extensive experience in all forms of commercial and residential property and landlord and tenant disputes including lease renewals, disrepair claims, possession claims, covenant breaches, and insolvency related issues.

This includes a wealth of experience of higher court and county court litigation, tribunals, adjudications, and alternative dispute resolution including mediation and expert determination.

Lee has taken over the role from fellow partner and civil litigator Graeme Wallington. Graeme, one of Ellisons’ managing partners, remains at the firm but will from now on concentrate on the strategic management of Ellisons.

Ellisons has established offices in Colchester and the Tendring peninsula and opened a new office in Ipswich in June 2014.

: : Nicole Larter has become a full-time member of staff at Suffolk enterprise agency Menta after successfully completing an apprenticeship with the organisation.

The former pupil at King Edward school in Bury St Edmunds, now aged 17, has achieved an NVQ2 qualification in business administration alongside running the reception desk at Menta’s business centre in the town.

“There’s been a lot to learn, in a very short space of time,” said Nicole.

“With 19 businesses based in Menta’s serviced offices we have many visitors to the site, including delegates for the business training and advice sessions we hold in the building too.

“I’m thrilled to now be a full time member of staff for Menta and am looking forward to increasing my knowledge and skills further, taking on more responsibility and developing my role.”

Alex Till, chief executive of Menta, said: “As well as helping Suffolk’s business community grow and prosper we have a responsibility, as an employer to develop our team and encourage young people. Due to Nicole’s great attitude, dedication and strong interpersonal skills we’re extremely pleased to have been able to offer her employment with us.

“Apprenticeships are an invaluable way for small businesses to grow and expand with minimal risk,” he added.

“The Apprenticeships Suffolk Business Service are calling for local employers to create 500 apprenticeship vacancies in 100 days. They provide a free and impartial advice service helping small businesses find the right apprentice for them.”

: : A total of 24 new students have joined the agricultural apprenticeship scheme operated by machinery manufacturer Claas, which has its UK head office at Saxham, near Bury St Edmunds.

They come from Claas dealerships located throughout the UK and Ireland, with 18 receiving their training at Reaseheath in Cheshire and the remaining six, from the North of England, Scotland and Ireland, at SRUC Barony in Dumfries.

Five of the students will be training for a new parts apprenticeship created last year with the other 19 studying for the Claas agricultural technician apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship scheme is provided by IMI Awards, working in conjunction with CLAAS. During their training, the apprentices will be continuously assessed for their competence and skills, using both work-based evidence and e-portfolios.

Both sets of apprentices will spend time training within the UK headquarters in Suffolk, giving them an insight into the size and scale of Claas, a global company employing more than 11,000 people, and they may also be selected to visit the Claas group headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany.

In their final, fourth year, the technician apprentices will also undertake additional advanced technical and industry training, so that by the time they qualify they will be eligible for LTA2 status.