Dodd & Co Chartered Accountant, which has just celebrated its 40th anniversary, has appointed two new partners.

Jonathan Ridley has been made a Tax Partner and Nathan Glaister has been made the firm’s first Financial Services Partner.

Jonathan, of Penrith, joined Dodds straight from school as a tax apprentice and qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2011 and a Trust and Estate Practitioner in 2013.

Nathan joined the team in 2015 and set up the firm’s financial services sister company Dodd Wealthcare Limited. With over 20 years’ experience as a financial adviser, he works closely with both Dodd & Co and Dodd Wealthcare clients to provide a joined up approach to financial planning.

The firm has nearly 200 staff working from its Carlisle and Penrith offices. Two of them, Ian and Jeanette Brown, are retiring. Ian was one of the founding partners and Jeanette joined almost 39 years ago.

 

*Naren Deen has joined the property team at commercial law specialist Baines Wilson which has offices in Carlisle.

He joins as a partner following a diverse career in commercial property law in London and Newcastle, with a strong focus on residential development.

Naren said: “I have connections with Cumbria. I really like the area and my wife runs a local business so I’ve been looking to relocate.”

He began his legal career in London, working on acquisitions and portfolio management for a property fund that invested in shopping centres and offices.

He also acted for an agricultural grower, supplying major supermarkets as well as a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund leasing property in Green Park.

A move to the Newcastle office of Eversheds saw him concentrate on commercial development work including public/private sector partnerships focusing on delivering urban regeneration.

From there he moved to Watson Burton – later acquired by the national law firm Weightmans – to head up the real estate team. Adam Yau, 25, has been appointed as a solicitor in its commercial property team.He joined the firm in 2020.

 

*Quantity Surveying practice Solomons Europe has ramped up its commitment to developing skills for the future by taking on a further two apprentices in its Cumbria team.

Rachel McSharry and George Duxbury have joined Solomons as Assistant Quantity Surveyors while they undertake a Level 6, MSc Quantity Surveying Apprenticeship. On successfully completing the course, they will embark on a final nine-month leg leading to an MRICS End Point Assessment and review and, if negotiated, secure chartership in just three years.

Rachel and George’s arrival takes the number of apprentices at Solomons to six – with half now based in its growing Cumbria team.

Armed with degree in Law with French and post graduate PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages from the University of Chester, Rachel was set on a career in teaching. However, a lack of opportunities saw the former Netherhall School student who lives in Workington, seek another path. She will be based at Solomons’ Papcastle Depot offices near Cockermouth.

George, who lives in Milnthorpe, had his sights set on joining the army having served in the Army Reserve’s University Officer Training Corps while studying for a degree in Physical Geography at Swansea University. After changing his mind and spending time out working as an outdoor instructor at Go Ape, Grizedale, he turned his attention to forging a career in Quantity Surveying.

 

*Abigail Wass has been appointed as Assistant Land Agent at Davidson & Robertsons rural surveyors and consultants.

She will work with farmers and landowners who have a range of issues from the loss of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) to development opportunities, infrastructure, and renewables across Cumbria and South West Scotland.

Abigail graduated from Harper Adams in 2018 with a BSc Honours Degree in Rural Enterprise & Land Management.

 

*Mark Foudy has been presented with an Exceptional Service Award certificate from the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the park industry's professional body.

Mark has been the manager of TJ’s Bar at Ullswater’s Park Foot Caravan and Camping Park and Restaurant for three decades. In the award citation he is described as “a truly outstanding employee”.

Mark, age 59, lives in Penrith with his wife Stephanie, whom he met at Park Foot, and the couple’s two children, Nathan and Lauren, who also both work at the park.

In his spare time, he is a keen fundraiser for Patterdale Mountain Rescue and organises various events on the park including duck races and social activities involving customers.

 

*South Copeland GDF Community Partnership has appointed Ged McGrath as its new Chair.

Mr McGrath has lived in South Copeland for 20 years and has a wealth of experience working in and engaging with the local community. This includes previously owning and operating Millom Post Office, being elected as a local councillor, and running a tourism business.

The Community Partnership was formed in December 2021 to take forward discussions about whether South Copeland could be the right place to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).

 

*Bendles Solicitors has expanded their family law department, with the recruitment of Senior Associate Solicitor, Emma McGrath.

Emma started working for the firm, which has offices in Carlisle and Wigton, in February. Her career began as a Legal Assistant, before joining a specialist Family Law Firm in Manchester in where she undertook her training contract and qualified as a solicitor in 2008. She completed a full-time training contract whilst studying part-time at Law School in Chester.

 

*Burnetts Solicitors has announced a host of promotions across its teams in Cumbria and the north. In its Medical Negligence and Serious Injury team Michelle Armstrong, former midwife now specialising in birth injury cases and Paul Brown, brain injury specialist, are both being promoted to Salaried Partners.

In its Agribusiness team Diane Barnes, who is from Cumbrian farming stock herself and specialises in agricultural land, tenancies and property sales, is being promoted to the role of Legal Director and Rachel Johnstone, who supports agricultural clients buying and selling farms and land, is being promoted to Paralegal.

Johnny Coulthard is being promoted to Senior Associate, as is Vikki Porthouse of the Family Team. Alex McAll from Burnetts’ Wills, Trusts and Probate team has been promoted to Associate, while Sara Riddlesden who supports the Banking team on all their deals, is being promoted to Paralegal.