This week’s North West appointments

Beth Wilkins, Hall Brown Family Law

Hall Brown Family Law has appointed Beth Wilkins to the role of partner.

Beth, the former head of family law at JMW and a leading partner in solicitors Pannone’s family law department, has worked in the field for over 30 years.

Beth’s specialisms include complex trust and offshore asset cases, pre and post-nuptial arrangements and Children Act disputes.

Further, Beth has previously represented celebs, sports stars and high-profile business owners.

The founders of Hall Brown, Sam Hall and James Brown (pictured above L-R with Beth), said in a joint statement: “We are thrilled that the doyenne of family law has chosen to bring her reputation, skill and experience to Hall Brown.

“Beth is one of the best known and respected family lawyers, not only in the North West, but nationally. She built the Pannone family law department into what was then the biggest and best team in the North West at that time. She then drove the JMW family team from Tier 4 to Tier 1 in the independent legal directories. A writer, broadcaster and lecturer on family law matters; we admire Beth as a person, as well as an empathetic professional and first-class legal expert.”

Beth commented: “I jumped at the chance to come on board at Hall Brown. The Pannone family department was the best in the North West thanks to the combined force of James, Andrew and me.

“Sam Hall was fundamental to the success of the JMW team with his charm and expertise. Brought together as a team at Hall Brown we will have the perfect mix of skills and experience to build on what is already a recipe for success.”

Hall Brown launched in Manchester six months ago.

Paul Matthews, Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall Solicitors

Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall Solicitors (WHN) has appointed Paul Matthews as the head of its corporate and commercial team.

Paul has joined WHN after working for 12 years as a partner with Manchester law firm Rowlands Solicitors.

With WHN, Paul will build and develop the company’s corporate and commercial practice across its seven offices in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

His areas of specialism include mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts, corporate and commercial transactions, shareholder arrangements and joint ventures, as well as partnership issues, commercial contracts and terms of business.

Paul said of his appointment: “Having brought a number of Manchester clients over to WHN and ensuring they are bedded into our client base, I am now looking to attract new clients, increase the volume and value of transactions we undertake, and eventually recruit extra team members.

“I was inspired to join WHN largely as a result of its people and reputation. I had meetings with David McCann, who impressed me with his friendliness, professionalism, and ambitious plans to grow the firm.”

He continued: “WHN enjoys an excellent and longstanding reputation and I was keen to become part of a great team of lawyers, while taking up the opportunity to develop the firm’s corporate and commercial activities.”

WHN’s commercial partner, Michael Shroot, commented: “Recruiting an individual of Paul’s stature and experience underlines our commitment to substantially expand our offering in the corporate and commercial space.

“He brings key management skills and deep expertise to WHN. I am confident he will significantly strengthen our senior team and I’m very much looking forward to working alongside him to implement our expansion plans.”

Emma Clarke, Birchall Blackburn Law

Birchall Blackburn Law has bolstered its personal injury team with the appointment of Emma Clarke in the role of assistant solicitor.

Emma, who will work at Birchall Blackburn’s Manchester office, graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2010 with a degree in Business Law.

After universtiy, she trained at Leeds-based Cohen Cramer and completed her Legal Practice Course in Manchester.

Emma also gained experience at Manchester law firm Express Solicitors and is a board member of the Manchester Young Solicitors Group.

She said: “I’m really pleased to have joined Birchall Blackburn Law and look forward to this next stage of my career.

“I am passionate about helping people and hope to make a difference to the lives’ of our clients at a time when they really need it the most.”

Birchall Blackburn Law’s head of serious and catastrophic injury, partner Dianne Yates, commented: “We are dedicated to growing our teams with specialists who fully understand the needs of our clients and we are really happy to have Emma on board.”

Adrian Bleasdale, Manchester Creative Digital Assets

Manchester Creative Digital Assets (MCDA), the organisation responsible for managing and developing The Space Project and The Sharp Project media hubs, has appointed Adrian Bleasdale as its new CEO.

Adrian Bleasdale has joined the company from ITV Studios, where he held the post of special projects director.

MCDA’s portfolio also includes One Central Park which, together with the Space and Sharp Project, offers in excess of 610,000 sq ft of space for creative, digital and production businesses.

In his new role, Adrian will lead MCDA through the next phase of its growth plans by developing and physically expanding its assets.

The founder of both The Sharp Project and The Space Project, incoming MCDA chair Susan Woodward, said: “Adrian has a track record of business transformation and growth, which is hard to match, this along with his experience and success in large scale project delivery sets him up well for leading Manchester Creative Digital Assets and brilliantly placed to grow the creative and digital sectors in Manchester, along with helping the City to identify and make further strategic investments in the sector.”

Commenting on his new role, Adrian said: “I’m thrilled to be leading the team at Manchester Creative Digital Assets.

“There is a very clear vision to further development, support the growth of the creative and digital sectors in the North and contribute to the economic growth of Manchester.”

He continued: “With the combination of the award winning Sharp Project, the expansion at the Space Project, development of One Central Park and further strategic investments we’ll have a fantastic offering here in Manchester.”

Adrian will leave ITV at the end of 2016 to join MCDA in January.

Ross Wilson, Powell Williams

The Chester office of building consultancy Powell Williams has taken on a new senior surveyor.

Joining the firm from Manchester-based Black Cat Consultancy, Ross Wilson is a RICS chartered surveyor and has experience as an investment manager.

Ross has also trained and worked at estate agents Savills and real estate firm CBRE, and was a founding partner of Hong Kong-based residential investment management firm Blackfish Ltd.

The head of Powell Williams’ Chester office, founding partner Andy Williams, said: “Ross has a wealth of building surveying experience and commercial awareness which makes him an extremely valuable asset for our clients.

“We will be introducing him primarily to our investment clients where he will be advising on the technical due diligence for their acquisition and disposal strategies, and providing lead surveyor services for a variety of refurbishment projects.”

He continued: “The business has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and we are in a position of growth, with many existing clients instructing us to look after a broader range of projects than ever before.

“Ross provides the additional capacity we require to meet the current and growing client demand, especially from the boutique investment funds where our ‘clear concise advice’ approach to service really resonates with their own ethos.”

At Powell Williams, Ross’ initial remit will include two £2.5m refurb schemes for client assets in the North and an office upgrade project in Cheshire.

He said of his appointment: “This role is exceptionally fortuitous for me as I was looking for an opportunity in my home town of Chester, where I could continue to work at the level I’ve achieved over the last 15 years.

“The timing is great as the business is on a growth trajectory, exploring new markets and bringing in new clients.”

Ross added: “I’m looking forward to working with the directors to develop professionally, gaining new knowledge and new perspectives.”

L-R: Charley Newstead, James Burch, Linda Kelly, Jo Shelbourne, David McMonnies, Jonathan Daly, Josh Donnelly

Four new hires and three promotions, Influential

Comms agency Influential has added to its core team through a series of appointments and promotions.

The integrated agency made four new permanent hires at various levels across its PR, marketing and digital teams, while promoting three existing staff to the role of account manager across its offices in Liverpool and Manchester.

Linda Kelly has joined Influential’s consumer PR team as a senior account manager, while Lancaster University graduate Josh Donnelly is now a digital data analyst within Influential’s growing digital team.

James Burch, a recent graduate of the University of Staffordshire, has been hired as a junior account executive to support Influential’s consumer team.

Lastly, Business Studies student Charley Newstead has joined the agency on a one-year placement from Sheffield Hallam University.

Elsewhere, the company has promoted Jo Shelbourne from digital marketing executive to senior digital marketing executive.

David McMonnies, from Influential’s Liverpool-based consumer team, and Jonathan Daly from the firm’s B2B team in Manchester, have both been promoted from senior account executives to account managers.

Influential MD Sara Wilde-McKeown said: “Influential continues to go from strength to strength, and these recent promotions and new hires are a clear reflection of that success.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Linda, James, Josh and Charley to the team.”

She continued: “The blend of experience, expertise and insight that they bring to the business will strengthen our existing teams and enable us to continue to provide creative, original and effective ways of telling our client’s stories - ensuring that their messages meet and connect with their target audiences.”

Speaking further, Sara hailed David McMonnies and Jonathan Daly as “adept account handlers, who make an excellent contribution to the agency”.

Sarah O’Toole, Grant Thornton

Business advisory firm Grant Thornton has strengthened its North West partner group with the appointment of a restructuring services partner.

Sarah O’Toole has joined Grant Thornton from business advisors AlixPartners, where she worked for over 18 years.

Grant Thornton’s managing partner for the North West, Carl Williams (pictured above), said: “I am delighted to welcome Sarah to the firm, she will I am sure be a great fit with us.

“She has great contacts and a wide network, having worked in the North West throughout her career.”

He added: “Our business is in great shape and we will soon be making further key appointments in our North West practice.”

Sarah commented: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Grant Thornton. The opportunity to lead the restructuring services team in the North West is really exciting.

“Grant Thornton is a huge brand. It’s a business in growth mode and is investing in its people and in the region through its Vibrant Economy campaign.”

She continued: “I am looking forward to getting started and working with the talented partner group as well as Jason Bell and the rest of the team.”

The appointment coincides with the launch of Grant Thornton’s Vibrant Economy Commission, which will guide its efforts in building a vision for a vibrant economy.

Comprising leading names committed to action and change, the Commission will examine the challenges and opportunities facing UK business and society.

Lynne Twissell, Ena Shaw Contract

Ena Shaw Contract, a manufacturer of made-to-measure blinds, curtains and soft furnishings, has hired Lynne Twissell in the role of business development manager.

At Ena Shaw, Lynne will work closely with clients across the housing, hospitality and public sectors, providing advice on interiors and installation.

Given her experience working for wallcoverings firm Dixon-Turner and manufacturer Burmatex, Ena Shaw is confident that Lynne will bring a wealth of knowledge of furnishings and interior fit-outs to her new role.

Commenting on her appointment, Lynne said: “Over the past decade working in the industry, I’ve supported projects within a wide range of sectors, from hospitality and residential to the private sector, so a move to Ena Shaw Contract felt like a natural progression for me.

“I have a real passion for interiors and design and I am thrilled to have already started working on exciting projects with healthcare providers and prestige hotel groups, such as Doubletree Hilton.”

She added: “I’m excited about helping to take Ena Shaw Contract to the next level.”

St Helens-based Ena Shaw Contract is the contract-only arm of soft furnishings business Ena Shaw Group.

Ena Shaw Contract’s contract director, Stuart Taylor, commented: “With a steady influx of new clients across various sectors, we were ready for an additional team member to boost our capability. Lynne’s past experience with interiors and furnishings, along with her being a brilliant cultural fit, really ticked all the boxes.

“We’re certain that her knowledge and enthusiasm will be extremely beneficial to the team, helping us to secure long-lasting relationships with companies across the country.”

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