People on the Move: Napthens; MFP; Hill Dickinson; Thorneycroft Solicitors; Equilibrium Asset Management
Regional law firm Napthens has appointed Tony Coates as a partner to lead its commercial property team in Southport.
Tony, of Hesketh Bank, joins the firm’s office in the town following 18 years with Birchall Blackburn Law.
A highly-experienced commercial property specialist, Tony represents a broad range of clients with a focus on owner-managed businesses, private pension schemes, SMEs and property investors – particularly in the hospitality and leisure, and retail sectors.
He will advise Napthens’ clients in the Southport area on matters including contract drafting and negotiation, landlord and tenant issues, property finance and acquisitions.
Tony said: “The commercial property sector is particularly active in Southport and I’m looking forward to joining the team at Napthens to help continue the firm’s recent growth in the town and beyond.”
Napthens operates an office in both Southport, and Liverpool city centre at The Plaza, Old Hall Street, along with offices in Lancashire and Cumbria.
James Allison, head of Napthens’ real estate department, added: “The team is going from strength to strength, and demand for our services continues to grow, despite uncertainty in the economy.
“Tony’s appointment reflects our commitment to clients in this sector and also the Southport marketplace.”
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A Bury-based financial planning company is strengthening its team and increasing its customer service offering with the appointment of a new member of staff.
Amanda Bradshaw joins Mackenzie Financial Planning bringing a wealth of experience in financial services across banking, life insurance, insolvency, pensions and fund managing, which she has gained in several leading organisations.
Amanda Bradshaw
She said: “From my first interview I knew that MFP were the company I wanted to work for.”
One of the few chartered firms in the area, the company specialises in organising and planning clients’ wealth in order to facilitate a high standard of lifestyle.
After a highly successful 2018 with several high-level new customers coming on board, MFP recognised the need to create this newly-formed role.
Managing director Paul Jones said: “We are thrilled with the addition of someone of Amanda’s calibre to the team. Not only is she fantastic with our customers, her invaluable experience will help us achieve our vision to become Bury’s leading chartered financial planning organisation, at the forefront of innovation and expertise.”
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Hill Dickinson lawyer Lisa Nabou has been appointed as a deputy district judge on the Northern Circuit.
MsNabou, a consultant in health litigation has made the bench on her first attempt, aged just 38.
The timing of Lisa’s appointment is particularly inspiring, coinciding as it does with the 100th anniversary celebrations of Women in Law, in 2019.
Lisa qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and is an experienced lawyer, advising and protecting the legal and reputational interests of healthcare professionals, including GPs, specialists and nurses.
She has provided advice in a broad range of legal matters including high value/multiple party civil claims for clinical negligence, inquests, criminal investigations – including manslaughter – and professional regulation before Medical Councils.
Having worked in Singapore and Hong Kong, and being dual qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong where she was partner in a law firm, Lisa has also developed a good understanding of the different culture, market and legal systems in Asia.
She is praised in the Legal 500 as “hardworking, energetic, committed and meticulous”.
Lisa Nabou
Lisa said: “A senior male solicitor once said to me that it was ‘admirable to try’ to become a judge at this stage in my career, which made me temporarily doubt whether I could do it.
“I could, of course, and did so on my first attempt. This goes to show that anything is possible if you work incredibly hard, prepare well and surround yourself with aspirational peers who intrinsically want the best for you and provide support in the process.
“My advice to anyone looking to apply is to prepare diligently for each stage of the assessment process, stay focused on the end result, enjoy the experience of the assessment day and, importantly, just be yourself. I encourage other solicitors to apply to the bench and would be happy to support anyone considering this.”
Joanne Hughes, a partner with Hill Dickinson, with whom Lisa works as part of the firm’s health team in Liverpool, said: “Lisa’s appointment is well deserved and I’m incredibly proud to have her as part of our team and to work alongside her.
“In this year, marking 100 years of Women in Law, her success serves as an inspiration, in particular, to young female entrants to our profession, demonstrating that barriers to progression in law are increasingly being smashed down.”
Lisa will continue in her role at Hill Dickinson alongside her commitment on the bench.
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After an excellent period of growth, Macclesfield-based Thorneycroft Solicitors has announced three new appointments.
Mary Lomas
Mary Lomas, from the catastrophic injury department, has been promoted to the role of associate director.
Having joined the firm in 2017, Mary has established herself as a key member of the team, working closely with Mark Belfield, a director at Thorneycroft Solicitors and the head of the catastrophic injury department, to develop excellent industry contacts and connections, as the department plans for the future.
Christine McClenaghan has also been appointed as the firm’s head of residential and new-build conveyancing.
Christine McClenaghan
She brings a wealth of experience to the firm having practised in the conveyancing sector for more than 20 years.
The firm said Christine’s appointment will ensure Thorneycroft Solicitors is able to build on its already established reputation for providing its clients with excellent conveyancing services.
Thorneycroft has also appointed Clare Cross as an HR consultant.
Clare has joined the employment & HR team, which is led by Nicola Parker, an asssociate director at the firm and the head of its employment law and HR department.
Clare Cross
Under the guidance of Nicola Parker, and with the recruitment of Clare Cross, the department has been able to broaden its offering.
Having more than 20 years of experience in the corporate HR sector and a CIPD qualification with a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, Clare will bring a wealth of experience to her role.
As an HR specialist she will be responsible for providing advice and support to the firm’s business clients.
As a member of the employment & HR team, Clare also regularly provides the firm’s business clients with personal on-site consultancy, assisting with employee meetings such as redundancy consultations, sickness absence meetings and disciplinary hearings, as well as undertaking detailed HR audits.
Clare also specialises in drafting and advising on the implementation of HR policies and procedures.
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Equilibrium Asset Management has appointed economist Dr John Ashcroft as a consultant.
John was chief executive of pro-manchester for nine years up to October 2018, and has previously worked with Goldman Sachs, Bain and Company, First Boston, Wasserstein Perella and SG Warburgs.
Over the next 12 months John will advise Wilmslow-based Equilibrium on global macro-economics and investment portfolio allocations.
He will also develop positional papers on economics, investment and finance, work closely with Equilibrium’s management and investment teams, while also providing market overviews at quarterly client presentations.
Dr John Ashcroft
John, who was founding chairman of the North West Business Leadership Team, has served on the board of Marketing Manchester, the CA Business Leadership Council and as chief economist for the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
He said: “Equilibrium currently manages over £850m of assets for over 1,000 families and is a Chartered wealth management company that offers genuinely personalised financial planning to its growing client base.
“Founder Colin Lawson and his team have done an exceptional job over the past 23 years and I’m excited to be working with such talented people over the next 12 months.”
John, who has served on numerous boards, including Marketing Manchester and was formerly managing director, then chief executive and chairman of international public company Coloroll, will also use his status to boost the profile of Equilibrium among professional service firms, large corporates and high-net-worths in Manchester and across the North West.
Equilibrium founder, Colin Lawson, said: “John’s vast experience and expertise means we are in a position to add value to our wide breadth of services.”
With an additional office in Chester, Equilibrium’s headcount now stands at 81, an increase of 14 during the financial year to September 2018.
