People: Law firm boosts corporate team; retirement finance firm appoints new director; and more

The Leeds office of law firm Irwin Mitchell has boosted its Corporate team with the double appointment of partner, Gavin Maddison, and senior associate Catherine Hinchliffe.

Maddison joins from Ward Hadaway in Leeds where he was a partner in their Corporate Finance department for six years.

He has particular experience of acting for clients in relation to mergers and acquisitions, joint venture investments, equity fundraisings, shareholder arrangements and group reorganisations, across a range of sectors.

In a legal career spanning 28 years, Maddison has also been a partner for three years at DWF in Leeds and has worked at Addleshaw Goddard, Freshfields and Bell Gully in New Zealand.

Gavin is joined by senior associate Catherine Hinchliffe, who also moves to Irwin Mitchell in Leeds from Ward Hadaway.

Hinchliffe’s expertise includes providing advice on transactions and corporate law, including investments, reorganisations, acquisitions and disposals. She has advised businesses across a number of different sectors including organisations in the manufacturing, financial services and leisure industries.

She also has experience in advising private companies, institutions and investors ranging from start-up companies to established corporates.

Chris Rawstron, National Head of Corporate at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Our national Corporate team is going from strength-to-strength and this is demonstrated by the number of very high profile transactions that we are currently advising on.

“We are determined to keep recruiting the very best people and the arrival of Gavin and Catherine is certainly another important step forward as we continue to grow our Corporate team in the Yorkshire region.”

Paddy Sturman, partner and Head of Business Legal Services at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds, added: “Gavin and Catherine represent two hugely significant appointments for our Leeds office. Both are highly talented and well-connected lawyers with excellent reputations for delivering first class client support.

“I have no doubt they will be real assets to the team here and I look forward to working with them as we continue to invest and grow our business division in Leeds.”

:::

Synectics, a leader in the design, integration, control and management of advanced surveillance technology and networked security systems, has appointed Simon Beswick as Finance Director Designate.

On 30 November , following the previously announced departure of the Sheffield-headquartered company’s current Finance Director Mike Stilwell, Beswick will be appointed to it’s Board of Directors as Finance Director.  

Beswick brings a varied background in large and smaller engineering and technology companies, with wide international experience in both finance and general management.

Beswick holds an MA in Engineering from Cambridge University and an MBA from Oxford University. He is a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

Until 2004, Beswick was European Finance and Legal Director of Rohm & Haas. After two years as Finance Director of Midland Heart, from 2007 to 2016 Beswick was Finance Director and subsequently Managing Director of Tritech International, a subsidiary of FTSE 100 listed Halma plc.

He oversaw the sale of Tritech to Moog, Inc. and was retained by them to complete the post-acquisition integration. Most recently, he has provided management and accountancy advisory services and is a trustee of a £4.5bn pension fund.

David Coghlan, Chairman of Synectics, said: “I am delighted to announce Simon’s appointment as Synectics’ Finance Director. In addition to his wide experience as a group finance director in larger organisations, he has a solid understanding of the nuts and bolts of successful leadership of technology-based companies.

“These skills will strengthen Synectics’ senior leadership team and we look forward to working closely with him.”

:::

Retirement finance specialist Age Partnership has appointed David Wing to its board.

Wing’s new position, risk and compliance director, will see him take the lead in the continuing development of the company’s governance structures, policies and procedures.

Speaking of the appointment, Wing said: “I’m extremely passionate about making sure we do the right thing for our clients.”

“Having worked in FSA/FCA regulated business for over 17 years, my appointment to the main board at Age Partnership will allow me to provide a consistent focus on conduct risk at the highest level of management. With the ultimate aim not only to make continuing improvements, but also to drive up standards across the sector by setting a positive example.”

Andrew Thirkill, Age Partnership’s chairman, added: “David has been instrumental in developing Age Partnership’s governance and risk management framework. Over the past four years he has managed a combined compliance, training and competence team of forty professionals to influence culture and drive through change.

“His appointment to the board will enable him to drive forwards, working alongside the FCA to deliver the best client outcomes at Age Partnership and of the equity release market overall.”

:::

Specialist commercial law firm Ironmonger Curtis has promoted Partner Toby Pochron to Head of Employment, and has increased its ranks in welcoming Solicitor Danny Smith to the team.

The Sheffield firm has strengthened its employment law offering by recruiting litigation specialist Smith from Gordons LLP.

Smith practised at Gordons for over four years, acting for a broad range of national and SME clients across key sectors including retail, healthcare, financial and engineering.

Smith said:  “After some time working away from Sheffield I am pleased to have joined Ironmonger Curtis; a forward thinking firm that is a trusted advisor within the business community.

“It is an exciting time to be joining the firm, which has a strong ethos of providing clear commercial advice and obtaining results.  I look forward to assisting Toby to provide a down to earth service in an environment where relationships with the firm’s clients are highly valued“.

Trevor Ironmonger, founding member of the firm, added: “Since joining the firm in 2014 Toby has demonstrated an excellent level of ability, professionalism and drive to grow both the Employment Law offering and the firm as a whole.

“Toby was an obvious choice to head up the department following the planned retirement from the business of Jon Curtis earlier this month. Danny’s skills and enthusiasm will only complement the current offering within the department”.

Close