Member Article

This week’s North West appointments

SAS Daniels snaps up new commercial litigator, Nigel Hyder

North West law firm SAS Daniels has appointed Nigel Hyder, a commercial litigation expert, as a partner to its Stockport office.

Nigel, who has over 20 years’ experience will join the 14 strong Dispute Resolution team.

Nigel, a commercial litigation lawyer, has substantial experience in resolving business and property disputes. He advises business owners on a range of commercial issues including contractual disputes, partnership and shareholder disputes and professional negligence.

In addition, he also specialises in property litigation, providing advice to property professionals, landlords and tenants on business tenancy renewals; dilapidations and repairs; forfeiture of leases; boundary disputes and break options.

Chris MacCafferty, partner and head of the Dispute Resolution team said: “Nigel has a wealth of knowledge and contacts and we are delighted to welcome him to the team. He will have an important role to play in expanding our commercial disputes and professional negligence offerings and advising on complex property litigation cases”.

Nigel commented: “I am very pleased to join the dynamic and forward thinking team at SAS Daniels. I am committed to doing all I can to resolve my clients’ disputes without the need to go to court but if court proceedings are necessary I will fight my clients’ corner robustly. I look forward to introducing my clients and contacts to SAS Daniels and to advising the team’s growing commercial client base”.

Nigel’s appointment follows two other recent senior hires in the SAS Daniels Dispute Resolution team in 2013, including Paul Formby, who joined as an associate to help set up an insolvency practice and Ray Woodward who joined the team as a litigation expert in the Chester office.

Nigel has moved from JMW Solicitors, Manchester, where he was a partner in the Commercial Litigation team.

The Dispute Resolution team at SAS Daniels has recently had unprecedented growth and is on track to double turnover over the past two years.

NVM Private Equity appoints Karl Cockwill to its investment team

NVM Private Equity (NVM) announces the appointment of Karl Cockwill to its investment team as portfolio manager. He will help to manage NVM’s portfolio across the UK and will be based at the Manchester office.

Karl joins NVM from 3i where he worked for eleven years as portfolio manager responsible for the majority of 3i’s portfolio of smaller investments in the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He actively managed 29 exits, achieving substantial value uplifts. Notable transactions include the successful sale of JP Corry to St Gobain, Land Instruments International to Ametek Inc and Armstrong Laing PLC to Business Objects.

Martin Green, managing director of NVM: “Karl is an experienced portfolio manager with a particular focus on lower mid-market businesses and SMEs. He has been extremely successful at managing complex portfolios, with board level experience across a range of sectors. These skills, along with his high quality network of contacts within our industry, will help to create value for our portfolio companies.”

Karl Cockwill, portfolio manager of NVM: “Having spent the last 25 years in the regional market focused primarily on SMEs, I am delighted to be joining NVM, one of the UK’s leading independent private equity businesses, in a portfolio role and very much look forward to working with the team to create, drive and realise value.”

Weber Shandwick bolsters digital offering with social media apprentice hire

The Manchester office of leading UK and global PR agency, Weber Shandwick, has appointed Jess Higgins as its first ever social media apprentice.

Jess was selected from more than 60 apprentice hopefuls to become social media apprentice on Weber Shandwick’s corporate team.

She joins the team for a year and will be boosting the agency’s B2B digital offering, as well as attending rigorous training and learning workshops to gain a nationally recognised qualification.

The team has already seen the benefits of Jess’s social media expertise. She successfully managed the social media marketing for ‘Maximising Millennials’, the launch event for Weber Shandwick Manchester’s exclusive research into engaging Millennial employees, aged 18 – 24, in the North West.

Held at MediaCity on Friday February 28, and timed to preface National Apprenticeship Week, the breakfast event saw business leaders from across the region come together with a panel of Millennials to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the upcoming generation of talent.

Commenting on her experience Jess said: “Starting work at Weber Shandwick Manchester has changed my life and put me on course for the career of my dreams. Social media is my favourite hobby and here I am doing it for the UK’s leading multi-specialist PR agency. I can’t believe my luck.”

She is now the third Jess on the corporate team, after being spotted at the Juice Academy’s boot camp by account manager Jess Shepherd. “Jess’ enthusiasm and knowledge of social media were immediately apparent to me. She is adding a great deal to our team in here in Manchester, and is embracing the ongoing training she’s receiving to really make the most of the opportunity.

“It is very fitting that we have appointed Jess at this time, coinciding as it does with National Apprenticeship Week.”

National Apprenticeship Week takes place between 3rd and 7th March and is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service to increase awareness, understanding and demand for apprenticeships.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .