People on the move: Squire Patton Boggs; Palatine; OfferMoments; CLB Coopers

Squire Patton Boggs has announced the appointment of infrastructure project finance specialist Nick Helm who has joined the firm’s real estate practice in Manchester as a partner from DLA Piper.

Helm advises sponsors, bidding consortia, contractors and subcontractors, funders and the public sector (including local and central government) on project finance and PPP schemes, particularly in the education, energy, defence, healthcare, social housing and emergency services sectors.

He has advised on international PPP schemes and has worked on energy and economic infrastructure schemes and infrastructure M&A.

Helm has significant secondary market experience. He has led teams advising on a number of precedent and market-leading transactions.

Nick Green, European head of the real estate practice group, said: “The expansion of the firm’s infrastructure and projects practice is of strategic importance to the firm.

“Nick Helm is a well-respected all-round projects specialist who has advised on some of the country’s most complex PFI schemes.

“His experience is complementary to the global services we have been developing in recent years, for instance through the appointment of Andrew Herring in rail, Robin Baillie and Philippa Chadwick in infrastructure, Neil Upton, John Danahy and Ian Wood in energy.”

“Nick is one of the leading lawyers in the projects field and we are delighted to welcome a partner of his pedigree to the firm,” added Rob Elvin, managing partner of the firm’s Manchester office.

“Through our involvement with the Northern Powerhouse agenda, we see opportunities to continue to build our profile as the firm to advise on infrastructure and policy, marrying our public policy capability with deep-seated relationships across the region.

“Nick’s broad infrastructure experience will be extremely valuable in this regard.”

The appointment of Helm follows that of corporate partner James Fitzgibbon, who joined the firm’s Manchester office from PwC earlier this month.

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Palatine Private Equity has made a new addition to its Manchester team with the appointment of Tom Ross-Jones as portfolio director.

Ross-Jones, who is a qualified chartered accountant, joins Palatine from EY, where he spent 11 years with the business advisory firm.

He has advised businesses on a range of transactions and restructuring programmes and went on to work in the operational transactions services team, which involved completing due diligence for private equity backed buyouts, as well as advising on business carve-outs and post-merger integrations.

Ross-Jones will work alongside Steve Donaldson, head of portfolio, and partner Ed Fazakerley. In his new role, he will help to manage the existing portfolio of investments and work with investee companies to drive further growth.

Ross-Jones said: “With an increasing portfolio of mid-market businesses, it is an exciting time to be joining Palatine. I am looking forward to working alongside Ed and Steve to support management teams to make a difference to their business and achieve their growth plans.”

Ed Fazakerley, Partner at Palatine Private Equity, said: “Tom’s experience of identifying problems before they occur and presenting innovative solutions that can help boost growth will be essential in his new role. Efficiency and sustainability are a focus for our businesses and Tom will play an instrumental role in identifying new opportunities that will better these areas.

“We are excited to welcome him on board as we continue to expand our portfolio and seek out the best solutions for our businesses.”

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Manchester-based advertising platform OfferMoments has enhanced its management team with the appointment of several new directors to its board after receiving a significant wave of investment.

The appointments are part of its future growth plans, which will see the company launching an innovative new Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising product.

The board will be chaired by venture capitalist Michael Edelson, who has been a director of Manchester United since 1982 and led OfferMoments’ investment.

The company has also installed Garry Partington as chief executive. Partington is also chairman and co-founder of mobile technology group, Apadmi.

He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the business and will work with the team to grow the business and continue the rollout of its innovative advertising platform.

Additional investors, Paul Althasen, a mobile industry veteran, and Howard Simms, chief executive of Apadmi Ventures, the investment arm of Apadmi, will also sit on the board as non-executive directors to help the management team with the direction of the business.

Founders of OfferMoments, Shahzad Mughal and Abdul Alim, will remain on the management team as chief technology officer and chief marketing officer, respectively.

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North West-based accountancy and advisory firm CLB Coopers has expanded its team to help satisfy growing demand for its services from the region’s businesses.

The ambitious firm has appointed Helen Davies to the position of Senior Manager in its audit and assurance team as part of its ongoing expansion plans.

Davies, who has significant experience of audit compliance and accounts advisory services, will work with the firm’s growing client base located across the North West.

She joins CLB Coopers, which is part of the Baldwins Group, after working in audit-focused roles across the region.

Davies has more than 20 years’ experience in advising owner-managed businesses and large groups of companies, including those with overseas subsidiaries.

Graham Rigby, senior director at CLB Coopers, said: “Having Helen in the team will enhance the compliance services we are able to offer to the region’s businesses and she is a key appointment for the firm.

“Her wealth of experience working closely with business owners across the North West, supported by her technical expertise, makes her a perfect fit for our busy audit and assurance team.”

Davies said: “I am delighted to join CLB Coopers, a firm which has built an excellent reputation in the North West market for providing a high quality service to a strong client base of high performing businesses.

“I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of the firm at what is an exciting stage of its development.”