Halliwells executive chairman Ian Austin is set to join Heatons as the Manchester law firm’s new head of commercial litigation.
Austin, who will take up his new post at Heatons this week, has held various senior roles at Halliwells, including managing partner and litigation head.
He was named executive chairman last September after the firm overhauled its senior management structure, a move Austin said was prompted by the need for “more resources to manage a firm the size of Halliwells”.
Commenting on his decision to join Heatons, Austin said: “Having now returned to a full-time fee earning role, I am looking forward to strengthening Heatons’ commercial litigation practice. This is a new challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”
Heatons managing partner Matt Fleetwood said: “This is a significant appointment for the firm. Ian is a first-rate litigator with a strong client following and vast experience. He is ideally placed to head our commercial litigation team and to help with the strategic development of the firm.”
Austin replaces Lee Dunnill, who has joined Manchester’s Berg Legal as a litigation partner.
Halliwells last week filed a second notice of intention to appoint an administrator, which will allow the firm until 20 July to conclude any potential deals with other firms to sell off its assets and avoid going into administration.
The troubled firm is currently in talks with a number of interested parties, including Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Hill Dickinson, HBJ Gately Wareing, DWF and Keoghs.
Source : Legal Week
