The North-East firm has recruited Peter Snaith, the global legal manager of Ineos Acrylics, and Chris Graham, head of legal affairs at VA Tech Transmission & Distribution UK, part of Austrian power engineering company VA Tech.
Snaith trained with Dickinsons before leaving for an in-house role at ICI on Teesside. Having worked in a number of ICI's chemical businesses, Snaith became global legal manager for ICI's acrylic business following its 1999 sale to Ineos.
Graham's in-house experience comes mainly from positions within the engineering industry, ranging from Rolls-Royce to his most recent role at VA Tech.
Commenting on what an in-house lawyer brings to private practice, Graham said: “The in-house lawyer is often as much a manager as a legal adviser. The advice they give has to work from a management perspective as well as a legal one.”
Dickinsons has developed a habit of recruiting in-house lawyers. Snaith and Graham's arrival follows the appointment of Frank Orr, the head of Newcastle City Council's environment and procurement team, to the firm's planning team.
Crutes Sunderland chief sets up own firm after office closes
North East firm Crutes is shutting down its Sunderland office today (1 October). Office head Brian Mackenow has left the firm in order to remain in Sunderland. He will retain some of the support staff previously employed by Crutes and set up his own practice, named Brian Mackenow & Co.Crutes’ senior partner Tim Wallis said […]