Higgs & Sons is strengthening its external relations team with two senior appointments to spearhead further growth and development for the Black Country firm.
Andy Ball comes to Higgs as business relationship director and Kathryn Bates joins as communications manager.
Andy has many years’ experience in client relationship management at companies including NatWest and Santander. He began his career in London working for NatWest before moving to Birmingham in 1996 to work in the bank’s corporate and commercial team. Andy moved to Santander in 2009 to help build the bank’s corporate and commercial UK business.
Kathryn joins Higgs from a business development role at Irwin Mitchell, where her objective was to drive new channels of opportunity and build relationships. Prior to this Kathryn managed both online and offline communications for a number of organisations to develop, promote and enhance their respective brands.
In the last decade, Higgs has seen its strategy for growth exceed all targets and the firm now numbers over 100 lawyers covering a diverse range of specialisms.
Speaking of his move to Higgs, Andy said: “My objective is to assist the firm to continue to evolve its innovative approach to both existing and new business relationships by ensuring we always value our clients, we are always visible to them and remain valued by them.”
One of Kathryn’s remits will be to grow the Higgs brand across the Midlands and beyond. Kathryn said: “The team has done an excellent job in building the Higgs brands in the last decade and the growth of the firm is evidence of this. My role will be to capitalise on this growth and promote all the good things that the firm is involved in to an even wider audience.”
Managing partner, Paul Hunt, said that by strengthening the external relations team, the firm will be able to reach out to even more clients: “Effective communications with our clients is paramount. Andy and Kathryn bring many years’ experience to the firm and we’re all excited about what can be achieved through these dedicated roles.”