All change at Pearson Solicitors

Keith Kennedy

PEARSON Solicitors and Financial Advisers has appointed Keith Kennedy as head of its corporate and commercial team.

The 40-year-old joins Pearson after 16 years with a city-centre firm in Manchester.

He lives in Saddleworth and is working with businesses across Oldham and beyond in a period of change at Pearson.

Mr Kennedy has particular experience in the telecoms, software, manufacturing and retail sectors.

Pearson said he has a strong reputation within the North-West business community, being described as “dogged and determined” in the current Legal 500 guide.

Originally from Northern Ireland, he studied English law at university in Dundee and after a stint working in Abu Dhabi completed a professional legal practice course in York. He said he was especially attracted to Pearson because it has an alternative business structure, which includes non-lawyers as partners. For example, Pearson’s Joanne Ormston is an accountant, while Richard Eastwood is an independent financial adviser.

Mr Kennedy said: “Having partners from different professional disciplines provides an excellent basis for running a practice and gives our clients a really broad range of services.

Deliver

“The in-house financial services team can provide private individuals and businesses with unbiased financial advice, strategies and wealth management, a service which most law firms can’t deliver.

“That can of course be particularly helpful for clients who are thinking about selling their business or disposing of shares.”

He said Pearson’s commercial and corporate, property, private client and financial services teams complement each other and help build long-term relationships.

“We already provide advice for lots of family businesses and I expect there will be a wide range of business owners in the Oldham area falling into that category, who are looking to exit and sell to third parties, or to bring-in new family members as part of succession planning, and that’s where a good corporate firm like Pearson can help.

“Likewise, the same expert advice is there for anyone thinking about acquiring or investing in a new business.

“Over the years I have acted for numerous clients that have grown from single entrepreneurs and owner-managed businesses to large corporate groups.

“It’s particularly satisfying to see someone you have worked with as a trusted adviser for many years enjoying that level of growth and success.”