People on the move: Law firm welcomes corporate partner from Shoosmiths; New MD for Frontline; and more

People on the move is sponsored by family law firm Hall Brown

A former partner at Shoosmiths has joined the corporate team at JMW Solicitors.

Damien Brown, who before Shoosmiths was at Squire Patton Boggs for seven years, specialises in all aspects of corporate work and advises clients on a range of matters including acquisitions and disposals, MBOs, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements, structuring, refinancing and private equity investments and structures.

Brown advises a range of clients in a variety of sectors, ranging from owner managed SMEs to large national and multinational corporate clients, and private equity houses such as NVM, North Edge, Foresight and Palatine PE.

Head of corporate, Mike Blood, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Damien to our experienced corporate team at JMW. He brings with him a wealth of experience especially within the niche area of private equity. We are pleased that JMW’s reputation and continued growth has helped us attract another excellent lawyer like Damien to the team.”

Brown, a new corporate partner at JMW, said: “I am pleased to be joining a dynamic and entrepreneurial firm such as JMW and I am very much looking forward to work with the current corporate team. With the firm continuing to grow it is a very exciting time to be joining JMW.”

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Caine Fearn has been recruited by Manchester-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) and managed services specialist Frontline Consultancy as managing director, replacing Bill Milligan who will take on the role of company chairman.

Fearn originally joined Frontline Consultancy as a sales consultant for SAP Business One in 2007 and became the sales director in 2011. Prior to joining the company, he worked in accountancy for eight years where he was responsible for evaluating new enterprise resource planning projects for clients.

Chairman and founder Milligan said: “Over the past 10 years Caine has helped grow Frontline into one of the leading ERP specialists in the country. His new role will see him leading the sales, systems integration and support teams ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and effectively for clients.”

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Exchange Chambers’ expansion has continued with the appointment of criminal and regulatory specialist Steven Swift as a new member in Liverpool.

Swift was called to the Bar in 1991 and practised from Chambers in Liverpool until 2009 when he joined Stephensons Solicitors as In House Counsel.  His decision to join Exchange Chambers marks a return to the independent Bar.

His case load is diverse and includes grave and complex cases including murder, manslaughter, armed robbery and serious offences of violence, rape and sexual offences and the importation and supplying of Class A and B drugs.

Swift has also represented clients facing serious fraud matters, HMRC restraint hearings and Proceeds of Crime Act determinations. In addition, he undertakes professional regulatory work appearing before the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council.

He said: “Having made the decision to return to the Independent Bar I am delighted to be joining Exchange Chambers with its outstanding reputation for quality, professionalism and strength in depth. I look forward to the further development of my practice within a strong team of criminal practitioners.”

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Business Growth Hub has welcomed a trio of university business development managers, completing a team that enables local businesses to access expertise and facilities at four Greater Manchester universities.

A key part of the Hub’s Innovation Growth Service, the new network of business development managers includes Rick Watson at the University of Manchester, Dharma Nurse at Manchester Metropolitan University and Stephen Ellison at the University of Salford. They join Sue Warburton, already established at the University of Bolton.

The group will work alongside the universities’ engagement teams and academic schools, offering businesses technical and sectoral advice, and helping them access university resources to develop new products and services or reinvigorate their business models.

Richard Jeffery, director at Business Growth Hub, said: “The world class academic knowledge and research facilities on offer at these universities allow us to create an unparalleled ecosystem of research, knowledge, and innovation with potential to make a real difference to businesses across Greater Manchester. These partnerships represent a significant step forward in the Hub’s mission to provide a market-leading service for the businesses that seek our support.”