Chris Eddlestone joins law firm Hammonds to head national hotel and leisure services team

Hammonds, the international law firm, is expanding its capability in the hotels and leisure sector with the appointment of the former head of the leisure services group at Halliwells. Leisure industry expert Chris Eddlestone is joining law firm Hammonds to head up the firm's national hotel and leisure services team from Manchester.

He joined Halliwells in 1999 and previously served 16 years at Birchall Blackburn, where he was one of three senior partners. His clients include Macdonald Hotels, Natural Retreats and City Block. Eddlestone has long associations with the leisure sector, having been a director and shareholder of Hutchinson Leisure Group, Apollo Leisure and Brook Hotels. He is also the founder of the Annual Hotels Conference, the largest event for independent hoteliers in the country.