This week’s North West appointments

Four appointments, Hill Dickinson

Law firm Hill Dickinson has expanded its Liverpool-based private client team after hiring four members of staff from rival firm DWF.

Susan Sherry has joined Hill Dickinson as legal director, along with former DWF employees Sheila Burnett, Bernadette Parkinson and Barry McDonough.

Susan has experience in creating wealth management strategies to efficiently manage the assets of high net worth individuals such as footballers and other sports personalities, in areas including inheritance, income tax and capital gains.

Susan, who recently co-authored a book on Powers of Attorney with Geoffrey Schindler OBE, said: “Leaving DWF was a difficult decision. Ultimately, we felt Hill Dickinson was a better fit for us and our clients; Hill Dickinson had also wanted to expand their team for a while too.

“A lot of lateral hires are happening at the moment in the legal sector. We have clients up and down the country and Hill Dickinson has a national presence, so in the end it was an easy decision.

She continued: “A substantial number of long standing clients have chosen to move with us.”

“There’s a really good feeling about Hill Dickinson and we’re really happy to be part of such a vibrant Liverpool office.”

Elsewhere, Sheila Burnett will work in residential conveyancing at Hill Dickinson following a career at DWF spanning 29 years. Paralegal Barry McDonough, meanwhile, worked at DWF for three years. Bernadette Parkinson, a fee earning secretary, Bernadette Parkinson, spent nine years with DWF.

Caroline Bilous, Davis Blank Furniss

Law firm Davis Blank Furniss has welcomed a new senior solicitor to its family team.

Following her appointment, Caroline Bilous will work at the firm’s Manchester HQ but will also handle cases out of its office in Glossop, Derbyshire.

Caroline’s new role will see her advising and assisting clients in relation to family matters such as divorce, civil partnership dissolution, nullity, children proceedings and financial proceedings.

At Davis Blank Furniss, she will work closely with the head of the firm’s family team, Anita Shepherd, on business development.

Joining the company from WTB Solicitors, Caroline qualified in 2006 and has also previously worked at law firm Beardsells.

Anita Shepherd said: “Caroline’s arrival is great news for the firm. We have worked together in the past so I know she will be a great addition to the team.

“Her talent and enthusiasm are first class and I’m sure our clients will benefit from her experience.”

Caroline commented: “Davis Blank Furniss is one of the region’s most respected law firms so I’m delighted to now be part of it. It’s great to be back working with Anita and I’m now looking forward to help grow the Family team.”

David Walton, Blackstone Solicitors

Blackstone Solicitors, a law firm based in Hale, Cheshire, has appointed David Walton as its new head of residential conveyancing.

Having trained in Bristol, David qualified in 1995 and worked for two law firms specialising in commercial property transactions before relocating to Manchester 13 years ago.

David will bring a range of commercial and residential property experience to his new role at Blackstone.

Emma Nawaz, the founder and MD of Blackstone, said: “We are delighted to welcome David to the Blackstone team; he has an excellent reputation and will be a real asset to the firm.

“He joins at an exciting time as the firm continues to expand and we are again recognised for our achievements to date.”

David Walton commented: “I have been involved with a wide range of commercial property matters including sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold property, leasing and management of commercial property and re-financing.

“I recently broadened my experience further with a move towards residential property transactions with particular emphasis on the sale and purchase of new-build residential accommodation and purpose-built buy to let investment properties.”

He added: “I am excited to join such a passionate team at Blackstone.”

Mughees Saleem, Dow Schofield Watts

Warrington-headquartered advisory business Dow Schofield Watts has taken on Mughees Saleem in the role of executive within its expanding transaction services team.

Mughees has been appointed from professional services giant EY, where he worked for five years in the firm’s audit department.

Graduating from Lancaster University with a degree in Accounting, Auditing and Finance, Mughees qualified as a Chartered Accountant with EY and was promoted to the position of audit senior.

His experience has granted him exposure to a large pool of UK and European clients, across sectors such as IT, media and manufacturing.

With Dow Schofield Watts, Mughees will help provide financial due diligence to clients including corporates and private equity investors.

Ed Brentnall, a partner of transaction services at Dow Schofield Watts, said: “We’re always on the lookout for talented and eager individuals to enhance our team as we look to continue to grow our due diligence offering across the North.

“Mughees fits that bill and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”

Peter Ormerod, Extreme Low Energy

Merseyside-based energy technology firm Extreme Low Energy Ltd (ELe) has hired a new head of global business development.

Peter Ormerod has been appointed to lead ELe’s worldwide development team, having previously served as the vice president of sales for global education firm Promethean.

Extreme Low Energy founder Mark Buchanan said: “Peter brings great insight and knowledge to ELe and we are fortunate he is joining our executive team.

“His leadership and exceptional experience gained in growing partner networks across the world is invaluable.”

Peter Ormerod commented: “I’m delighted to have joined ELe and it’s exciting to be part of a start-up company that has quickly established all the key ingredients for success, boasting a hugely talented team and genuinely innovative technology.

“ELe’s solutions provide opportunities for dramatically reducing the energy and carbon footprint of IT equipment, and can also enable organisations to operate partially or fully off-grid.”

Victoria Hurcomb and Steven Brewster, Sigma Capital

Sigma Capital, the residential property and urban regeneration firm, has announced two new appointments at its offices in Manchester.

Steven Brewster has joined the business in the role of development manager from surveying company J&E Shepherd Surveyors.

At Sigma, Steven will ne responsible for the planning, acquisition and delivery of the firm’s private rented sector schemes across the Midlands and Southern England, managing key relationships to see each development delivered in accordance with contractual requirements.

Victoria Hurcomb, meanwhile, has been hired for the post of marketing manager. Victoria spent more than two years working for Manchester-based Refinery Marketing Communications and will now be responsible for Sigma’s marketing strategy. She will also lead on the development of the Sigma brands.

Commenting on his new role, Steven said: “Sigma Capital is an exciting company renowned for its expertise in the residential property sector so I am delighted to take the position of Development Manager.

“The company is a driving force the PRS market in the UK and I look forward to helping expand the brand into the Midlands.”

Victoria said: “Sigma is a hugely successful organisation that has recently experienced significant growth.

“From a marketing perspective this is an opportune time to develop the brand further and I am looking forward to being part of that journey.”

19 promotions, Brabners

Brabners, the commercial law firm, has promoted 19 of its lawyers.

Lee Jefcott (who works in employment), Louise Scholes (in private client), Simon Lewis (corporate) and Phil Steele (commercial litigation) have all joined the partnership.

Employment lawyer Lee Jefcott, who qualified in 1996, has worked with Brabners since 2013. He carries out the full range of employment work while lecturing for private university BPP and writing about employment law for various publications.

Simon Lewis is specialist in corporate acquisitions and disposals, restructures and shareholder matters across multiple sectors. With an interesting in technology, Simon’s expertise lies in working with internet-focused enterprises.

Louise Scholes, meanwhile, advises high net worth individuals and trusts. Her previous work has seen her dealing with a range of private client work, such as will drafting and inheritance tax planning.

Lastly, Phil Steele has been involved in a number of high-profile and reported cases, undertaking commercial litigation work with an emphasis on sports and media disputes.

The following lawyers have been promoted to senior associate:

• Kate Venables (housing and regeneration)
• Philip Woolham (housing and regeneration)
• Chris Pavlou (employment)
• Andrius Roos (housing and regeneration)
• Josephine Morton (housing and regeneration)
• David McGurnaghan (private client)
• Cathy McFadden (commercial property)
• Rebecca Spears (commercial property)

The final seven promotions are to associate position are:

• Elspeth Beatty (employment)
• Emma Clarke (employment)
• Natalie Hargreaves (family)
• Hannah Carter (commercial property)
• Peter Blakemore (commercial property)
• Luke Taylor (commercial property)
• Rachel James (private client)

Brabners managing partner Mark Brandwood said: “As I said back in February when announcing our financial results, we are committed to recruiting and retaining the best talent we possibly can in order to continue to deliver a consistently outstanding service to our client base.

“That focus hasn’t altered, as this round of promotions and hires demonstrates.”

He added: “It is my firm belief that being an employer of choice for our people leads us to being the firm of choice for our clients, both current and future.”

Jenna Atkinson, Bromleys

Law firm Bromleys has added to its family team with the appointment of a new solicitor.

Jenna Atkinson has joined the Tameside-based firm from the Chorley office of Forbes Solicitors, where she worked under her maiden name Jenna Bury.

Having graduated from Newcastle University, Jenna went on to study at the University of Law in Manchester and train at Preston firm O’Donnells Solicitors.

Jenna’s experience has seen her advise clients on matters such as divorce and separation, civil partnership breakdown, pre-nuptial agreements, children, and financial and property disputes.

The head of Bromleys’ family department, partner Nicholas Clough, said: “Jenna is a welcome addition to our growing team. She has a caring and understanding approach to dealing with sensitive matters and shares our culture of always putting our clients’ needs first.

“As someone from the Greater Manchester area, she understands the needs of local clients and her arrival helps to strengthen our family department.”

Jenna commented: “I’m delighted to join Bromleys as it’s a great place to work and has an ethos of providing high-quality client care with a friendly and professional approach.”

Jenna’s appointment has taken staff numbers at Bromleys to 54.

Liz Mackay, AlixPartners

Consulting firm AlixPartners has announced the appointment of Liz Mackay as managing director at its Manchester office.

Liz, who has relocated to the North West from AlixPartners’ base in Glasgow, will lead the firm’s turnaround and restructuring services (TRS).

Further, the MD will take on responsibility for coordinating the company’s TRS business outside London by collaborating with AlixPartners teams in Birmingham and Glasgow.

AlixPartners’ UK head of TRS, Alastair Beveridge, said of the appointment: “Liz is a highly respected and extremely effective restructuring professional and this move is reflective of her skills as a practitioner and business leader.

“We have a very strong and well regarded restructuring practice outside of London and this move for Liz highlights our commitment to serving our clients on a national basis as we seek to build upon our position as the UK’s leading independent provider of turnaround and restructuring services.”

Liz said: “I’m greatly excited by the opportunity this move affords, Manchester continues to grow as an economic powerhouse and is the perfect location for our regional operations throughout the North of England and beyond.”

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