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“The role allows me to maximise my experience in a way that will add real value to Lodders and its people.” New role bolsters HR resource
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Andrew Busst has been appointed to the new role of training and development manager, working alongside Lodders’ HR director Sarah Naffine.
Andrew is focusing on refreshing the firm’s induction and onboarding processes and identifying professional development requirements and opportunities for all Lodders’ 150-staff in its specialist corporate, business and private client legal teams and all four offices.
Andrew brings years of dedicated training and development experience to the firm. Previously, he managed the training team, apprentice, graduate, development and talent programmes for over 700 employees as Training & Development Coordinator at automotive supplier Brose. He also has legal sector experience from ten years as a Legal Executive at Birmingham law firm Beynon & Co. Andrew says: “Lodders is a highly progressive firm, and it is rare for a law firm to have a role dedicated to overseeing training, something really refreshing, appealing and exciting. The role allows me to maximise my experience in a way that will add real value to the firm and its people.”
Sarah Naffine adds: “Andrew joins the team at such an important time in the firm’s 230-year history - we have a number of new, exciting initiatives already in development and under implementation across the firm, which will take Lodders’ learning, development, internal communications and overall strategic HR support to a whole new level.
“As a multi-site firm, it is important that we continue to maintain the scale and focus of our growth strategy and values of a modern and progressive firm, and its people are at the heart of these.”
Law Society recognises 50-year landmark
Birmingham Law Society presented Michael Orlik with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his 50-years in the legal profession.
Michael was admitted as a solicitor in October 1970, and has been a member of Lodders’ Commercial Property team for almost 20 years, today as a consultant.
Known as one of the country’s leading experts on highway law, Michael’s expertise spans local government, planning, highways, public and private rights of way, compulsory purchase, compensation law, common land and village greens.
His book, ‘An Introduction to Highway Law’, is in its fourth edition. An Oxford University graduate, Michael spent the first half of his career in local government working for four different councils. He entered private practice in 1990 and joined Lodders in 2002.
He says that among his career highlights was his instrumental role in securing changes to the law on compensation for compulsory purchase, together with representing clients at public inquiries:
“Whilst not always of legal significance, cases were always of great importance to the individuals involved,” he said.
One compulsory purchase cases was one of the last to be heard by the House of Lords just before its jurisdiction was transferred to the Supreme Court. He was also in court for what he says was “the very unfair trial of the Rolling Stones” in 1967. “Whilst slightly mystified that it is fifty years since I was admitted to the legal profession, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed the whole of my career very much, both in the public and private sector.”
Senior hires for growing teams
Commercial litigation specialist Andrew Wylde has joined Lodders 13-strong Dispute Resolution team as a senior associate, and trusts and estate planning specialist John Padget joins as an associate in the Private Client department.
Andrew advises clients on all aspects of dispute resolution, including corporate and shareholder disputes, contract breaches, together with providing insolvency advice. John Padget brings several years of experience working solely in private client law to the firm, including providing advice on trusts and estates administration, estate planning, wills, lasting powers of attorney, inheritance tax, and capital gains tax. He has worked exclusively in private law since qualifying as a wills and probate solicitor in 2014, and is an affiliate of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
New partner for Lodders’ prestige private property service
Experienced property lawyer Rhiannon Edwards has joined Lodders as a partner in the Town & Country property team.
Rhiannon specialises in the sale and purchase of client’s prestigious properties, utilising her 20-plus years’ expertise in the conveyancing of high value listed buildings with complex planning histories, new build developments, conveyancing related planning issues, planning enforcement matters, the rectification of defective leases, and high value town and country properties. Head of the team, Caroline Nemecek, says: “Rhiannon’s appointment means we can continue to develop and grow our tailored personal property service for high net worth individuals.
“She fully understands and supports the team’s ethos of providing a bespoke and personal service to our clients, by concentrating on excellence and client care rather than volume of transactions.”
Tax expert joins Lodders
Barrister, tax, estate planning, wills and trusts specialist Alana Graham, joined Lodders’ top-ranking Private Client department in April 2021.
Alana has a wealth of tax and private client experience having worked for a number of national law firms and Inheritance Tax consultancies, and regularly advises clients based around the world on tax, wills and trusts matters.
At Lodders, she advises on all tax related matters, and, as she retains her ‘rights of audience’, Alana will also utilise her advocacy skills to represent clients in all the courts. “With my skills and passion I can offer clients completely holistic advice based on my many years of experience,” says Alana.
Head of the Private Client department, Louise Igoe, adds: “Alana combines an impressive breadth of knowledge with being able to represent clients in the tribunals and courts.”
