In brief: Leading trio look outside law for new directors

Three leading firms have made new management appointments. William Barnes, former head of professional practices at accountants Deloitte & Touche, will join London firm Masons as operations and business development director while Jock Birney, former corporate finance managing director at investment bank SBC Warburg, joins national firm Hammond Suddards as a non-executive director. Meanwhile, John Ellson, former group financial controller at Daniel Thwaites, becomes financial director at Manchester firm Donns, which has also appointed its former equity partner Adele Warchester as practice administration manager.