AN up-and-coming Ramsbottom employment lawyer is celebrating a contract with one of the UK's largest legal firms.

Richard Sheldon has been appointed to the Manchester office of North West law firm Mace & Jones. The 25-year-old joins as an assistant solicitor after completing a two-year training contract with the firm.

Mace & Jones' employment team is rated as one of the best in the UK, acting for blue chip clients such as Shell Oil UK, Liverpool Football Club and Emerald Airlines. Richard said: "The training period has been a fantastic challenge and I am delighted to be working with one of the UK's most renowned employment law firms."