Construction lawyer VINAY PATEL has joined law firm Jacksons from the GXI Group legal team in London.

He will be working with the Teesside law firm's commercial property and commercial litigation teams.

Mr Patel graduated in law from Brunel University in 2000 and completed a masters degree in construction law at King's College, London.

He has worked in the City and also has experience of large commercial developments in the US and Mauritius.

Originally from Mauritius, he is fluent in five languages, including French and Hindi.

l TAX lawyer KAREN ECKSTAIN has joined law firm Watson Burton as a partner.

She joins the firm, which is based in Newcastle and Leeds, from Beachcroft Wansbroughs.

Ms Eckstain is a qualified solicitor and chartered tax practitioner.

She specialises in tax-related claims against professionals, as well as contentious tax trust and estate issues, including investigations.

Andrew Hoyle, Watson Burton senior partner, said: "Karen's dual qualifications mean she will benefit clients in many of our main departments.

"She has gained a strong reputation for the effectiveness of her work, and her positive approach to cross-office and teamwork suits our way of doing business very well. I believe she will boost results in both Leeds and Newcastle."

Ms Eckstein has practised as an indemnity lawyer since 1990.

* A FORMER general manager and production director has taken on a new role to help support businesses in County Durham.

DAVE CADMAN, 58, has been appointed as an account manager by Business Link and will be based at Sedgefield Borough Business Service.

He will work with small businesses to give them access to a range of help and advice available through Business Link.

Mr Cadman, who lives in West Auckland, has experience in general management, sales and marketing. He was formerly production director at NMC Kenmore, in Crook, County Durham, and general manager of Ilpea Limited, in Skelton, east Cleveland.

He said: "I have joined the team at Sedgefield Borough Business Service at a very good time as we have just moved into new offices in the Evans Incubation Centre, on Aycliffe Industrial Park, Newton Aycliffe, where businesses will find us easy to access."

* Solicitor MARK CLAYTON is joining Darlington law firm Latimer Hinks as a partner in the commercial property department.

Mr Clayton is from the town, and attended Eastbourne Comprehensive School and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, before completing a law degree at Durham University and law society finals in Newcastle.

After qualifying, he worked in Eversheds' Newcastle office, initially carrying out corporate and general commercial work before specialising in commercial property.

In 1999, he moved to Mills and Company, in Newcastle, where he was responsible for the firm's non-contentious practice, with an emphasis on commercial work, before returning to Darlington.

Tim Haggie, partner at Latimer Hinks, said: "We are delighted Mark has made the decision to return to Darlington and we are extremely pleased to be welcoming such an experienced partner to our team.

"Mark's experience of commercial law will complement and enhance the department.

"He has exactly the right expertise to help our firm continue to grow."

* NORTH-East housebuilder Wilcomm Homes has appointed a commercial manager.

PAUL FAIRLEY has joined the Sunderland company from Robertson Construction, where he was managing quantity surveyor on a £27m hospital project.

Mr Fairley, who started his career as a trainee quantity surveyor with Stanley Miller, has more than 17 years experience.

As commercial manager, he will be responsible for overseeing all commercial aspects of the housebuilding business. including pricing projects, managing budgets and dealing with sub-contractors.

Wilcomm Homes was established in 2003, and has developments in Seaham, Sunderland, Durham and Teesside.

* RADIO station TFM has appointed sales director MATTHEW BROMHAM to lead its advertising sales team.

Mr Bromham spent seven years at Metro FM, in Newcastle, and Viking FM, in Hull, and two years as commercial director at radio advertising specialist Get Carter productions.

Cath Ellington, managing director at TFM, said: "We are very pleased that Matthew has agreed to join the team at TFM. His professionalism and experience will be a tremendous asset to the sales department and I am sure that he will build on its success in the future."

l ARCHITECTURE firm Waring and Netts has appointed PAUL LEWIS as building surveyor to lead its building consultancy group.

He has more than 30 years experience and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

He also has a diploma in management studies.

He will provide structural appraisals, reporting on the condition of properties and providing maintenance regimes for property owners.

l DAWN ROBERTS has joined the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), in Sunderland, as a conference facilitator. The 42-year-old, from Gateshead, joins from Gateshead Housing Company.

She will be responsible for the BIC's conference facilities and IT training suite.