People on the Move: KPMG; SDL Auctions; Calderpeel; Simpson Millar; Brown Turner Ross

The Manchester office of business advisory firm KPMG has announced the appointment of five new partners across its tax, audit and financial services practices.

Liam Finnigan has been appointed partner within KPMG’s audit team.

Joining the firm in 2000 as a graduate, he’s gained a wealth of experience working closely with privately-owned and listed businesses in the leisure and tourism, defence and aerospace and manufacturing sectors across Manchester and the North.

Kathryn Harding has been promoted to partner in KPMG’s tax practice.

She returned to the firm in 2014 to lead its global mobility services practice in the North.

In her new role as partner, Kathryn will leverage 19 years’ experience advising multinational employers on all aspects of employee taxation and managing an internationally mobile workforce.

After 18 years with KPMG, Rick Nash has also been made partner in the firm’s tax team.

He specialises in M&A and for the past five years has been advising global institutional investors on their acquisition of UK and European infrastructure assets.

Splitting his time between KPMG’s Manchester and London offices, his clients include some of the world’s largest pension and infrastructure funds.

Also being promoted to partner in KPMG’s tax practice is Sarah Anthony, who works within the firm’s indirect tax team. Sarah has 15 years’ experience and specialises in providing VAT advice, with clients spanning the public and private sectors.

Alexander Simpson has been appointed partner within the firm’s financial services practice.

Based in Manchester he brings more than 15 years’ experience advising the UK’s regional banking, insurance and investment management sectors.

His clients include financial institutions in the UK and EU and some of the North West’s most high-profile financial services businesses.

Nicola Quayle, office senior partner at KPMG in Manchester, said: “It’s very satisfying to welcome so many to the KPMG partnership from our thriving St Peter’s Square office this year.

“Between them, Sarah, Alex, Rick, Kathryn and Liam, perfectly represent the vast experience and broad skill-set we as a firm deliver to Manchester’s business community, and organisations across the North of England.

“Manchester’s economy continues to thrive, with more and more multinationals choosing it as their UK headquarters and a growing community of innovative start-ups keen to make their mark.

“The strength and scope of our own offering as a full-service business advisory firm reflects the city’s vitality, and I’m fully confident our new partners will help us continue to support the region’s upward trajectory.”

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SDL Auctions has appointed a new head of residential auctions as the business continues to grow in the North West, Cheshire and North Wales.

Debs Latham brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having worked in agency, lettings and property management.

Debs Latham

She said: “The opportunity to join such a vibrant company at a key time in its growth across the North West, Cheshire and Wales region was too good to miss.”

Cheshire born and bred, she currently lives midway between SDL Auctions’ Manchester and Chester offices.

She attended the University of Aberystwyth before going into business on her own account in recent years. Her experience also includes time spent as a Visit England trained Inspector.

“This included everything from five star, gold standard £10m properties, to £20,000 holiday lets, so it was an excellent grounding which enhanced my skills in the property industry.

“My various roles in agency, letting and property management have enabled me to see the property market from all sides, so I can understand what our clients require, whether as buyers or sellers,” she said.

Also joining SDL Auctions North West, as auction administrator, is Alex Senior.

Alex Senior

Alex will work alongside Debs and residential valuer Andy Thompson managing the properties and conducting the viewings for the lots entered in the business’s regular auctions at Manchester’s AJ Bell Stadium.

Andrew Parker, managing director and auctioneer at SDL Auctions, said: “The appointment of Debs as head of residential auctions for our North West region is a key component in our growth plans for the area.

“Her role will be to build strong relationships with our key customers and promote SDL Auctions as the auction route of choice for our clients.”

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A Cheshire-based architecture practice has expanded its team following a series of new appointments.

Calderpeel Architects, which is based on Church Street in Altrincham, has added five to the practice to facilitate growth as it looks to build for the future.

Dylan Harkin and Kieran Marsh join as technicians, Kate Johnstone and Jenny Cox have been taken on as part 1 architectural assistants, while Hussain Al-Alwan joins as a graphic designer, taking the firm’s Altrincham team to 18.

Ewen Miller, managing director, said: “Calderpeel has built a strong reputation in its core sectors – including superhomes, residential, leisure and blue-chip commercial – but we have a clear growth plan in place to expand the work we do in these areas further.

“The move significantly strengthens our team and allows us to ramp up ahead of this growth.

From left: Kate Johnstone, Ewen Millar, Huss Al-Alwan, Jenny Cox, Dylan Harkin and Kieran Marsh

“Dylan, Kieran and Huss bring with them a wealth of experience, while our latest intake of architectural trainees – Kate and Jenny – have an abundance of enthusiasm for the sector.”

Dylan joins Calderpeel as a technician after gaining experience at Manchester’s Lewis and Hickey Architects, while Kieran has also been taken on as a technician from Gladman Retirement Living.

As technicians, Dylan and Kieran will create building solutions for construction projects, as well as designing visuals for proposed schemes.

As architectural assistants, Kate and Jenny will spend 12 months gaining practical industry experience, known as ‘part 1’, working alongside Calderpeel’s architects on a wide range of (SECTOR) projects.

It’s their first year in industry after both completing an undergraduate architecture degree.

Their path to qualifying as architects means following their ‘part 1’, they’ll need to complete a postgraduate architecture qualification, followed by another year in industry before they can sit part 3, which involves the final written and oral examinations.

Meanwhile, graphic designer Hussain joins Calderpeel with a degree in graphic design from Manchester Metropolitan University and will build the firm’s visual brand, work alongside the firm’s PR partner on marketing matters and lead team building initiatives.

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National law firm Simpson Millar has confirmed 12 promotions across its legal and business service teams.

The announcement comes during a busy period for the firm which announced in September that it had acquired Liverpool firm EAD Solicitors amid plans to expand its national presence into the North West.

As part of the raft of promotions, public law expert Samantha Hale has been made a partner, having initially completed her training contract with the business in 2009.

She later left the firm to join Hertfordshire County Council as an education solicitor, before re-joining in 2015.

Samantha specialises in education law, helping secure the right educational placements and provision for children and young people with special educational needs.

Samantha Hale

The firm has also promoted medical negligence expert Kay Barnes to partner who joined in 2016 and has more than 20 years’ legal experience specialising in serious birth injury cases.

A former midwife of 14 years, Leeds-based Kay was also recognised by the Legal 500 as one of their 2017 recommended lawyers.

There are two promotions to senior associate: Hannah Dickinson, who leads the cashiering team within the firm’s finance function and has been tasked to deliver an ambitious project to centralise financial tasks and increase efficiency of fee earners; and Nicola Hardy, a practicing solicitor who has taken on a role within the central management team.

In addition, Simpson Millar has announced the promotion of eight new associates including: Darrel Jardine and James Blower in holiday claims; Fiona Couzens, Joanne Levey and Silvia Nicolaou Garcia in public law; Raminder Bhabra in risk and compliance; Claire McGregor in residential conveyancing; and Natalie Julier in road traffic accidents team.

Managing partner and chief executive of Simpson Millar, Greg Cox, said: “We are always proud to recognise the dedication, ability, talent and hard work that our team members demonstrate, and which is a huge part of what makes the firm successful.

“This announcement showcases the depth of talent and ability at the firm and reflects our commitment at Simpson Millar to provide opportunities for progression and personal development.

“It is particularly pleasing to see appointments from across all practice areas of the firm and professional support services.”

Following the acquisition of EAD Simpson Millar has gone on to reveal a five-year growth strategy which will see the firm invest substantial sums in marketing, technology and in developing its people, while also attracting new talent.

Growth will come through developing its own ‘direct to market’ channels and acquisitions as it capitalises on the opportunities in the consumer legal market driven through continued regulatory reform, cost pressures, changing client demands and unmet legal needs.

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Liverpool City Region lawyers Brown Turner Ross have appointed two new directors.

Kendra McKinney is a specialist in family law while Chris Mason works in the field of dispute resolution and property litigation.

Kendra McKinney is a member of the family law department at Brown Turner Ross, having joined the firm in September 2014 as a trainee solicitor before qualifying as a solicitor in March 2016.

She is instructed in relation to a wide range of litigation, including, but not limited to, public and private law child care issues, divorce and property and financial disputes.

Chris Mason joined the firm in 2016 working exclusively in civil litigation, acting for clients in a wide variety of disputes.

He is an expert in commercial dispute resolution, property litigation, non-contentious corporate matters and employment law.

With offices in Liverpool and Southport the firm’s expanding portfolio has seen Chris and Kendra promoted to director.
Chris Mason said: “Brown Turner Ross has a long and impressive history and this is an exciting time with the client base growing significantly. I am looking forward to taking a prominent role in the next phase of the firm’s development and contributing to the ambitious aims for the future.”

Kendra McKinney added: “At Brown Turner Ross’s family law department we make a significant, positive impact on people’s lives. I’m pleased to be taking this senior position in this important part of the firm’s business and I hope to be an influential force in the future of the firm.”

Sam Bushell, director and head of family law, said: “Chris and Kendra have been exemplary solicitors for the firm for some time now and we’re pleased to be able to appoint both of them as directors.

“The energy and enthusiasm they have is a real asset to the firm and their clients, while their professionalism and outstanding skills and experience will be invaluable in shaping the future of the firm as directors.”

Kendra McKinney and Chris Mason

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