People on the Move: Bathgate Business Finance; Savills; Clarke Willmott; Baldwins; Gamlins Law

Tracey Hamilton

West Kirby-based finance specialist Bathgate Business Finance has continued its ambitious expansion plans with the appointment of a new business development manager in asset finance specialist Tracey Hamilton.

Tracey, who has more than 20 years’ experience within the business banking and asset finance industry, joins Bathgate from Close Brothers Asset Finance.

In her new role Tracey will be responsible for growing the company’s existing client base and offering a range of flexible funding solutions tailored to meet businesses’ cashflow demands.

She brings to the team experience from working for some of the UK’s largest banks and funders, as well as her knowledge of asset finance within the manufacturing sector.

Tracey said: “I am looking forward to using my knowledge and experience to build strong relationships with new and existing clients, as well as working closely with Bathgate’s exceptional team to forge the company’s position as the North West’s go-to funder.

“I am excited to be joining the team and helping customers to make the right choices.”

Bathgate Business Finance managing director Gordon Andrews said: “Tracey’s understanding and knowledge of the manufacturing sector and the challenges that businesses in industry face will be invaluable, not just to our existing customers but also in facilitating the growth of our own business in that sector.

“She also has considerable expertise in asset finance, developed over more than two decades, which further strengthens our team’s knowledge base.

“We are excited to have her on board as we continue to extend and improve our offer to SMEs across the North West.”

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Savills has expanded its building and project consultancy team with the appointment of new director, Mark Burns, who has joined the firm at its Booth Street office in Manchester.

Mark brings with him more than 25 years of experience, joining Savills from property and construction consultancy Spring and Company.

As a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Mark’s wide-ranging expertise spans both new-build and refurbishment project management across a variety of sectors, including retail, leisure, commercial, residential and hotels.

Mark Burns

Mark said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the esteemed team at Savills Manchester. Throughout my career I’ve managed an array of high-profile projects across a wealth of sectors, and I’m looking forward to bringing this experience to future projects at Savills.”

Gary Bulloch, head of building and project consultancy at Savills Manchester, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the specialist project management team in Manchester.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge, particularly in the mixed-use repurposing of complex town centre sites including the transformation of the Corn Exchange in Manchester.

“Furthermore, his extensive background will help us to really focus on providing the highest level of expertise in our project management service.”

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National law firm Clarke Willmott’s fast-growing Manchester office has been further strengthened by the arrival of Matthew Dootson who joins the corporate team as an associate.

Before joining Clarke Willmott Matthew was the sole legal counsel and data protection officer for IMH Group where he worked for two years.

IMH is a national consolidator in the healthcare market and much of Matthew’s work will involve the healthcare sector and Matthew has introduced IMH as a client.

Matthew, who brings a wealth of corporate and commercial legal experience advising clients on issues including mergers and acquisitions, healthcare regulatory law and data protection, said: “After two years operating in-house I’m ready for this challenge as part of Clarke Willmott’s team here in Manchester.”

Matthew Dootson

He added: “I enjoy working with, and advising, businesses of all sizes, from entrepreneur-led SMEs to large corporates, and look forward immensely to meeting the firm’s clients and helping them achieve their aims.”

Roy Crozier, partner and head of Clarke Willmott’s Manchester Office, said: “Matthew has excellent corporate experience and we are all confident he will prove a real asset to our team.

“As an office we have grown tremendously in the last year and Matthew’s appointment is another example of a talented young professional choosing to join Clarke Willmott and helping us to further success.”

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North West accounting and business advisory firm, Baldwins, a CogitalGroup company, has strengthened its leadership team with a new tax director, and appointed a graduate.

Jenny Pape has been promoted from her previous position of senior manager to tax director and will now be responsible for generating business and raising the profile of the firm’s Lancaster office across the North Lancashire and South Cumbria corporate community.

Having worked with one of the big four accountancy firms, KPMG, Jenny has seven years’ experience advising SMEs and owner-managed businesses, as well as charitable organisations and international groups on all aspects of corporation tax.

Susanna Cassey, director at Baldwins, said: “Jenny joined the office 18 months ago and has quickly become a key figure in the Lancaster business community.

“Her promotion to tax director recognises this and means the office’s senior team is now firmly in place for the future.”

The remit of tax director will include continuing to maintain the relationships that Jenny has built with existing clients, while also developing her team to ensure the future success of the business.

Jenny Pape, left, and Susanna Cassey

Jenny said: “I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable start to my career at Baldwins and have been getting to know many businesses across the region.

“Lancashire and Cumbria are home to a wealth of businesses operating in a variety of sectors, and it’s great to be able to offer specialist tax advice to them from our base in Lancaster.

“My promotion to tax director demonstrates the recognition and investment the firm has in its people, and we are keen to continue attracting talented professionals to push the office forward.”

Baldwins has also added a graduate to its team, Andrew Chambers.

A qualified teacher with a BSc in mathematics and a seven-year teaching career, Andrew will fulfil the role of audit and accounts assistant. He will act as a junior on audit and exempt assignments under the supervision of seniors.

Susanna added: “Andrew demonstrates our continued investment in graduate ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) trainees. He has a mature attitude, is enthusiastic and is keen to learn and develop.”

Baldwins specialises in accountancy and business advisory services, including corporate finance and specialist tax advice to all businesses from start-ups to mature companies, across a broad range of business sectors.

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A North Wales law firm is bucking a UK-wide trend by growing its criminal law team.

Gamlins Law has increased the number of criminal lawyers from two to six in the past 18 months.

The department, led by Gamlins Law director Dafydd Roberts, also saw revenues increase by more than 25% in 2018 compared to the previous year.

The growth of the firm’s criminal law team coincides with warnings from the Law Society that a “chronic” lack of duty solicitors may result in innocent people being found guilty.

Nearly half of all duty solicitors in England and Wales are over the age of 50 and there is a shortage of younger lawyers choosing to specialise in criminal law.

Gamlins Law has gone against the UK trend by recruiting two new duty solicitors, Michael Pugh and Rebecca Boswell, both of whom are under the age of 40.

The firm has six offices in Rhyl, Ruthin, Mold, Abergele, Denbigh and Holywell and its criminal team is regularly asked to represent clients in major cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

The firm specialises in representing clients accused of more serious conspiracy offences including conspiracy to supply drugs, murder and fraud.

Dafydd said: “We believe passionately in the importance of people having access to justice.

“The findings from the Law Society regarding the rapid decline in the number of duty solicitors being available to represent clients at police stations is extremely worrying.

“We have grown our team considerably in the last 18 months and expect to continue investing in the department over the next couple of years.

“We are fast gaining a strong reputation not only within North Wales, but also in North West England and the Midlands.”

Experienced solicitors Simon Simmons and Phil Lloyd-Jones and senior case worker Peter Williams make up the other members of the six-strong Gamlins criminal law team.

Dafydd Roberts

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