People on the Move: Irwin Mitchell; Ballyclare; Social Communications Group; National Museums Liverpool; Mazars

Nazia Nawaz

Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth is launching a new will, trust and estate disputes team in Manchester from May 1, which will be headed up by senior associate Nazia Nawaz.

Nazia joined Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth last year in Leeds and is making the move to Manchester to build a new team in the North West.

Having qualified in 2003, Nazia is a highly experienced dispute resolution and litigation solicitor.

She will be handling complex disputes between executors and trustees, contested wills and proprietary estoppel cases as well as disputes involving financial abuse and maladministration.

Nazia is also a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.

Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth is the number one ranked team for will disputes in the independent Legal 500 rankings and is often involved in international, ground-breaking and high-value complex cases.

Nazia said: “I worked in in the North West before I joined Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth and so it’s great to be moving back to Manchester to start building a new will, trust and estate disputes team here.

“We are already the number one ranked team in the country and are looking to grow further in the coming years.

“This is a specialist area of law as disputes arising from estates and wills are usually highly emotionally charged and can create friction between family and friends. It requires a sensitive touch but it is important for clients to know that we are prepared to take their cases to the highest courts if necessary.

“While I will be based in Manchester I can draw support from some of the best private client lawyers and resources in the country at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth.”

The law firm’s Manchester office has seen exciting changes in recent months. National head of family, Ros Bever, was named regional managing partner for the office in April, taking over from Roy Beckett. Ros will continue her work as a leading family and divorce law partner.

The office has also recently seen the arrival of three new Court of Protection partners, new corporate partners Victoria Zivkovic and Adam Kaucher, and announced a move into new offices, demonstrating its commitment to growing the business in the city and the North-West.

Ros said: “We are delighted to welcome Nazia and the will, trust and estate disputes team to the city. We have a great reputation for our legal work here and ambitions to become a large private wealth hub in the North West.”

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Stockport-based workwear manufacturer Ballyclare has announced a new appointment which adds industry expertise to its ranks.

Stanley Russell has been appointed as technical sales executive, and he brings considerable experience of high performance fabrics to his new role.

He has joined Ballyclare after managing his own textile and workwear company for a number of years.

He said: “Having been successful in that venture I was looking for a fresh challenge that would take me in a new direction.

“When the opportunity arose to join Ballyclare it was too good to resist. My role is now to work on product development across all the Ballyclare ranges and help make it the number one, go-to name for workwear and PPE.”

Stanley is a fellow of the Textile Institute and has worked in the textile industry for more than four decades.

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Social Communications Group has appointed former senior diplomat Rob Luke to a board position as director of operations and external affairs.

This latest strategic hire marks a further expansion for the fast-growing communications agency founded just five years ago and now with 30 staff across offices in Manchester, Leeds, London and Bristol.

Rob will oversee the group’s operations and work with group managing director John Quinton-Barber and the senior team to help deliver the company’s ambitious vision for its next phase of growth.

A former British High Commissioner and Deputy UK Information Commissioner, Rob will also broaden the firm’s offer of political and strategic counsel to clients, drawing on his government, regulatory and external affairs experience.

“This is a further mark of our ambition for Social Communications. Rob brings more than two decades’ of top-level experience working with Whitehall, Westminster and senior decision-makers nationally and internationally,” said Mr Quinton-Barber.

Rob Luke, left, and John Quinton-Barber

“Rob’s experience both as a leader and an influencer will be invaluable in helping us implement my vision for the next stage in our growth, and further strengthens our full-service offer to our growing range of clients across numerous sectors.”

Rob, who will work from the Manchester HQ of Social Communications, said: “I was drawn by this compelling opportunity to help shape and deliver the ambitious strategy that John and the team have for the group.

“Brexit, disruptive technologies and shifting social and demographic trends are among the challenges and opportunities for the business and our clients.

“I look forward to working with our four offices and helping our clients achieve their goals in this rapidly-changing political, technological and social landscape.

“Social Communications’ innovative, strategic and values-driven approach helps our clients engage highly effectively with diverse audiences. I’m excited to be part of that.”

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The Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP has extended the terms of Andrew McCluskey and Philip Price as Trustees of the National Museums Liverpool board for one year, commencing on June 8, 2019, and September 10, 2019, respectively.

Mr McCluskey is a founding member, lead singer and songwriter in the music group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and has achieved 60 global gold and platinum album and single awards, as well as three Ivor Novello Award nominations.

Mr Price is a leading figure within the North West investment community. He is an owner director of Dow Schofield Watts, a prominent corporate finance advisory business in the North of England.

For more than 20 years he has provided specialist corporate finance advice to growing businesses across a broad range of clients and sectors.

He has been based in Liverpool since 1990 when he came to study at John Moores University. He now lives in the Woolton area of Liverpool with his wife and three young children.

The roles are not remunerated.

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Mazars, the international accountancy and advisory firm, has recruited partner Andrew Westhead to lead its North West tax practice.

He will be based in Manchester and joins Mazars from Grant Thornton.

Mr Westhead has worked with clients of all sizes, and has particular expertise in advising entrepreneurial businesses and private clients. He will help to build on the significant footprint the North West team has built in this area, while also working alongside partner Dave Hilton and the Mazars deal advisory team which continues to act as lead adviser on a significant number of M&A transactions in the region.

Tim Hudson, the Manchester office managing partner of Mazars, said: “Andrew is a highly respected tax partner who brings considerable technical expertise combined with excellent leadership skills.

“We are winning in the market as the adviser of choice for entrepreneurial businesses, and Andrew’s expertise will help us continue our impressive growth.”

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