People on the move: Stephensons; Maven Capital Partners; Brabners; Best Western; RSM

Chris Graves, left, and Tom Mooney

Law firm, Stephensons, has announced the appointment of two new partners.

The firm has welcomed clinical negligence expert, Tom Mooney and commercial property specialist, Chris Graves to the partnership.

Graves joined Stephensons as a student before qualifying as a solicitor in 2007. Since then he has worked with the firm’s commercial law department, specialising in high value commercial property acquisitions and commercial sales.

He is a noted expert in complex transactions including development work and supported living and care accommodation. He is based in the firm’s Bolton, Middlebrook office.

Mooney joined the firm in 2006 before securing a training contract and qualifying in 2010, dealing exclusively in medical negligence cases. He was recently honoured with the Law Society’s clinical negligence accreditation in recognition of his exceptional expertise in this field of work. He is based in Stephensons’ Wigan Investment Centre office.

Stephensons’ chairwoman, Ann Harrison, said: “We are very pleased to be able to welcome Tom and Chris to the partnership.

“We are also proud to say that each have achieved this having joined the firm as trainees, showing considerable dedication to their teams, to Stephensons and our clients.”

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Maven Capital Partners, one of the UK’s most active private equity houses, has appointed three new investment managers and a dedicated portfolio administrator to its North West investment team.

They are to support of NPIF Maven Equity Finance, which has a North West focus and is managed by Maven for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

Martin Clark, James Darlington and Jeremy Thompson will be responsible for transacting new NPIF equity investments, while Nikola Clarke will provide portfolio support to NPIF investee businesses.

The appointments will supplement Maven’s established, highly experienced Northern England investment team, which has been completing SME transactions across the North for almost 20 years.

With Maven also having recently announced the opening of an office in Preston, the new appointments further strengthen the team investing in SMEs across the North.

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Commercial law firm Brabners has bolstered its national housing and regeneration team with the appointments of consultant Suzanne Gregson and senior associate Lisa Robotham to its Liverpool office.

Gregson has more than 16 years’ experience providing specialist legal advice to the social housing sector.

She has particular expertise advising on issues that include abandonment, common law injunctions, illegal occupation and management agreements.

Gregson has acted for clients such as Together Housing Group, Community Gateway and Your Housing.

She joins from DWF, where she was a partner and national head of housing litigation. She was previously a partner at Eversheds where she also led the housing litigation team.

Robotham joins from Capstick Solicitors, where she was a partner, and headed the Birmingham real estate team.

She specialises in capital projects, estate rationalisation and regularisation and partnership arrangements.

She has more than 20 years’ experience in commercial property law, in particular acting for public sector clients, including NHS and private healthcare organisations such as South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Cancer Partners UK and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Alistair Fletcher, head of housing and regeneration at Brabners, added: “Suzanne and Lisa bring a diverse range of specialties and sector expertise to the team. Their insight into housing and healthcare will be invaluable as we continue to advise a growing client base across a range of sectors.”

Brabners housing and regeneration team is part of a 70-strong real estate practice – one of the largest in the North West.

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South Manchester’s Best Western Cresta Court Hotel, Altrincham has announced two new appointments to its conference and events team this month with Nicola Jones and Helen Potts joining the newly- promoted conference and events sales manager Polly Coulson.

Coulson previously held the role in 2008, before leaving to take up a post at Moorside Grange Hotel & Spa and then on to events management consultancy.

She returned to the Cresta Court Hotel in 2012, and has since held roles as a conference and events co-ordinator and HR assistant.

She will manage the day to day business in the hotel’s busy events office including sales and revenue management, special event marketing and ensuring a high standard of guest service across its £1.5m conference, wedding, banqueting and meeting business.

She will also head-up a new team that includes conference and events executive posts for Jones, joining from a role as a special event co-ordinator for Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, and Potts who leaves her role as conference and events executive at the AC Hotel Manchester Salford Quays to become part of the new team.

Paul Hindley, hotel general manager said: “Polly has been a valuable member of our team for many years now, and has demonstrated all the skills, creativity, passion and determination needed to make the most this new role.”

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Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has further strengthened its tax practice by appointing Anthony Cox as a partner and Andrew Stackhouse as a tax director in its Preston office.

Cox is a leading tax professional with almost 21 years’ experience advising a range of companies and individuals on tax issues, including acquisitions and disposals, capital allowances, R&D tax relief, corporate reconstructing, capital gains and inheritance tax.

In addition, he brings extensive experience to the role having worked within two ‘big four’ firms specialising in corporate and property tax advisory work and key compliance tax services for a range of corporate and individual clients.

In their new roles, Cox and Stackhouse will provide support to a growing number of regional clients, whilst working closely with the team to grow the practice and its offering.

Kevin Duffy, RSM’s office managing partner in Preston, said: ‘We continue to invest in our tax practice with key strategic hires, and its fantastic to welcome Anthony and Andrew to the team.

“Both are well known Lancashire professionals with extensive experience which will further strengthen our offering – reinforcing RSM’s position as the leading adviser for middle market businesses in the region.”

The moves follow the recent appointment of private client specialist Pam Maddock who joined the RSM tax practice in April.

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