People on the move: Beechbrook Capital; Forum for the Built Environment; DWF; Myerson

Specialist direct lender Beechbrook Capital, which backs SMEs in the UK, has further strengthened its Manchester-based regional office team with the appointment of Jon Petty as associate director.

Petty joins from Deloitte, where he spent five years in its Manchester debt advisory practice, working on a wide range of financing projects.

Previously, he had spent four years in the Royal Bank of Scotland Structured Finance team. Petty will support Beechbrook investment director Matt Kenny, who joined in April to head up the company’s Manchester office.

Jon Herbert, managing director of Beechbrook’s UK SME Credit fund, said: “We are delighted Jon is joining the Manchester team. The North of the UK is of key strategic importance to the fund and we look forward to supporting Matt and Jon in originating high quality investments in growing regional businesses.”

Beechbrook Capital, which supports businesses with a turnover of between £10m and £100m and EBITDA of more than £1m, held a final close of its first UK SME Credit fund at the beginning of the year, with commitments in excess of £150m. The fund has already completed 11 investments and is now over more than 50% invested.

Its two most recent investments are Wilton & Bain, a specialist provider of executive search services and interim management to the technology and professional services sector, and Nu-Heat, a leading UK supplier of underfloor heating products.

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Communications specialist David Jones has been appointed North West regional director for the Forum for the Built Environment (fbe) – the across all platforms, national networking group specialising in construction, property and development.

Jones, a well-known communications professional in his role as managing director of Thirty 30 Media, oversees marketing, PR and event management for clients in the sector via his Manchester-based agency.

He takes over from Warren Percival.

Jones said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to take over the fbe North West regional director role from Warren Percival.

“He’s been superb in helping to drive the fbe forward in the NW and I hope to continue with the work of making the fbe a vibrant and exciting organisation to be involved with.

“Key to this will be raising the profile of the organisation, driving membership and continuing to champion the wider construction industry. I greatly look forward to working with all our members, both new and old and also working with other industry likeminded groups to truly represent the industry here in the North West.”

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International legal business DWF has appointed Asima Rana as a director to its commercial litigation team in Manchester. Asima joins from TLT Solicitors where she was a senior associate in the Technology and IP team.

Rana has more than 15 years’ experience specialising in all aspects of intellectual property litigation including trademarks, passing off, copyright, designs, confidential information and domain names.

She regularly advises and acts for household name clients and brands in relation to their intellectual property disputes and provides strategic advice and risk analysis in relation to brand development.

In line with DWF’s sector approach, Rana has particular expertise in advising clients across the retail, technology, media and telecoms sector.

She also has a strong track record of advising major UK retailers on IP disputes, with significant experience in the fashion sector, which will complement DWF’s existing retail sector expertise.

Joel Heap, national head of commercial litigation at DWF, said: “With her legal expertise and commercially-focused approach, Asima will be a strong addition to our team as we look to expand our litigation practice both here in the UK and across our international locations. Her expertise in technology and retail, in particular, will allow us to continue expanding our client base in those target sectors, and we look forward to having her on board.”

Rana added: “DWF has a strong reputation for product innovation, an aspect that sits very closely with my previous experience. The business’s litigation team has a fast-growing presence internationally and offers an exciting platform to join and build upon.”

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Altrincham, Greater Manchester law firm Myerson has demonstrated a 100% retention rate for its September trainee solicitor qualifiers.

Charlotte Hook has become a solicitor in the commercial property department and Emma Dooley has joined the litigation team, specialising in property litigation.

Myerson has also welcomed three new trainees to the firm – Gemma Symons, Holly Atkins and Tom Evans.

Trainee partner Joanne Perritt said “This is a very exciting time for the firm, having moved to our new premises in February and with every department across the firm experiencing growth through increased work from existing clients and new client wins.

“We are delighted that Emma and Charlotte have chosen to stay with the firm on qualification and be part of our continued expansion.

“The appointment of our three new trainee solicitors is a very important part of our ongoing strategy to recruit and retain the best talent and we are very pleased to welcome Gemma, Holly and Tom to the firm.”