Manchester’s James Chapman & Co has taken on Addleshaw Goddard solicitor Amanda Kearsley as a new partner. Kearsley, who was an IT consultant for 10 years, has joined the firm’s technology and data practice.

“Data management is an area of increasing importance to all commercial organisations,” said senior partner Maurice Watkins. “Amanda has been at the forefront of these developments and I am confident that her knowledge and expertise will be a tremendous benefit to many of our existing clients.”