People on the Move: Birchall Blackburn Law; Metis Real Estate Advisors; RSM; MCC Accountants; Pierce Chartered Accountants
Specialist serious and catastrophic injury solicitor, Leanne Tattam has been promoted to partner by legal firm Birchall Blackburn Law.
Leanne joined the company in January 2018 and is based in the firm’s Manchester office in Kennedy Street.
She is a senior member of the firm’s specialist serious and catastrophic injury team, which is skilled in head and spinal injury civil compensation claims.
Leanne, aged 37 and from Alderley Edge, said: “I’m over the moon to be promoted to partner after years of hard work.
“During my training I was fortunate to work with partners who specialised in brain injury cases. They showed me that I would find serious and catastrophic injury cases to be the most rewarding work because I saw how reassuring to the client the solicitor dealing with the case could be.
“I soon realised I could improve people’s lives and provide vital help and support during what was a very confusing and difficult time adapting to a life that would never be the same again.”
Despite a teenage ambition to be a lawyer, Leanne read biology at the University of Manchester before undertaking a graduate diploma in Law.
Leanne’s science and medical background combined with her legal training has proven invaluable in the often complicated and difficult interpretation of medical records and reports obtained in catastrophic injury cases.
Quentin Underhill, a partner and head of serious and catastrophic injury at Birchall Blackburn Law, said: “Leanne is a major asset to this firm and to the injured people she helps. She is of, course, a brilliant and tenacious lawyer but beyond that she is patient, compassionate and sympathetic.”
Birchall Blackburn Law has offices across the North West in Manchester, Preston, Southport, Chester, Chorley, Leyland and Morecambe. The firm employs more than 310 staff across a broad range of legal services.
::
Metis Real Estate Advisors, the independent retail, leisure and investment agency business, has announced that Peter Barker has joined its thriving advisory team as director.
Peter brings a wealth of experience to Metis, most recently as property director at Lovisa where he drove the brand’s growth from its debut Leeds store in 2015 to more than 40 stores across the UK.
Peter also worked in in numerous international markets and with other brands in the BBRC Group.
Prior to Lovisa, Peter was head of Northern retail at Savills, most notably acting for UBS on Birmingham’s Primark, the brand’s largest store in the world.
Peter Barker
Stephen Tregenza, director of retail agency at Metis, said: “At Metis we are continuing to develop our team and invest in people, seeking out those with nationwide knowledge to add our unique approach in the North West and beyond.
“Peter’s expertise is invaluable as we continue to drive UK acquisitions for Lovisa and further diversify our client base. Throughout his career, Peter has visited and worked with an unrivalled range of shopping centres, and this specialist experience adds a new dimension to our team.”
Peter Barker said: “After following closely the rapid growth of Metis, and the ambition and proficiency of the advisory team, I am delighted to be joining the company. I look forward to applying my experience in the sector to Metis’ high-quality client base, aiding the company’s expansion even further.”
Over the past year the Metis team has leased more than 500,000 sq ft in leisure and retail spaces in the North. Clients include Liverpool One and Manchester Arndale. Metis also includes significant leisure and investment teams.
::
Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has appointed Rowan Porter as a director in its growing financial due diligence practice across the North.
Rowan brings more than 13 years’ corporate finance experience, following his previous role at Grant Thornton.
He brings particular expertise in buy and sell side financial due diligence projects including corporate transactions, private equity and debt finance. He has advised on transactions across a number of sectors including technology, manufacturing, and service providers.
Stephen Green who, along with Rob McCarthy, co-leads RSM’s financial due diligence team in the North, said: “As a prominent professional in the market, Rowan has a wealth of experience, specialist technical and commercial expertise that will continue to enhance our due diligence offering in the North.
From left: Graham Bond, Rowan Porter, Steve Green
“The appointment reaffirms our commitment to investing in senior talent to lead unprecedented demand for quality financial due diligence in the North West, Yorkshire and the North East.”
In his new role Rowan will work closely with Stephen and Rob to support acquisitive businesses and funding institutions with strategic regional, national and international transactions.
Rowan added: “I am thrilled to be working with Stephen and Rob and excited to join such a well-established transactions team in the North. I am proud to be a part of RSM’s growth story and look forward to providing transaction advisory services across the region.”
The move follows a busy period for the team acting on a range of significant regional deals working with a number of leading private equity funds including Key Capital Partners, NorthEdge Capital, Growth Capital Partners, plus, particular deals acting for Mobeus Equity Partners on the MBO of Star Brands, supporting Newley Weds Inc on its acquisition of Jigsaw Foods, and acting for Kartell UK’s acquisition of Just Trays.
::
Salford-based chartered accountancy practice, MCC Accountants, has continued its impressive expansion, resulting in the hiring of several new staff.
Accountant Khadija Atcha and assistant manager Sarah Roberts recently joined the busy team. The MCC practice is now targeting further accounts for SMEs, sole traders and contractors across the whole of Greater Manchester.
Rob Flint, practice manager at MCC Accountants, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Khadija and Sarah to our team. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with them, developed over a number of years within the accounting and finance sector.
“The way that Khadija has conducted herself since her arrival has been exemplary. She is highly motivated and is always looking to improve our clients’ experience. She has swiftly become a key member of the team at MCC. I look forward to supporting her as she works towards becoming a fully qualified chartered accountant.”
He added: “Sarah has excelled in her role as assistant manager. Her organisation and communication skills are excellent and her enthusiasm for her work is already rubbing off on the rest of the team. I know that she will be hugely successful here.
From left: Rob Flint, CEO Mish Liyanage, Sarah Roberts
“At MCC we pride ourselves on passion, drive, reliability and honesty. Khadija and Sarah both embody all of these qualities and so are the perfect additions to our team.”
Khadija said: “I was given a lot of responsibility from the day I started, which was quite daunting. But Rob and the rest of the team have been very supportive. I feel appreciated and love seeing how my work is being used to steer important financial decisions for our clients.”
Sarah added: “I have already worked on a wide range of duties. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I can’t wait to take on even more work and show Rob and our clients what I’m capable of. I’m excited and proud to be a part of MCC as it continues its expansion in the near future.”
The arrival of the new team members comes on the back of a record year for MCC, in which it has achieved the acquisition of an impressive number of new clients.
There are plans for further growth next year. MCC will be adding the provision of auditing, business consultancy and outsourcing to the roster of services they provide to their client base of more than 100 small businesses and contractors, developed over 10 years in business.
::
Pierce Chartered Accountants has appointed five new employees to its growing team following a recruitment drive.
The Blackburn-based firm has welcomed accounts trainee John Farnworth and Sarah Farragher and Georgina Dewhurst to its online services team. Karen Rhodes joins as payroll administrator and Stephen Evans on a one-year accounts placement.
The appointments further strengthen the online services team which has grown significantly since the introduction of Making Tax Digital in April 2019. Since the new process was announced, the team has increased by 33%.
From left: Sarah Farragher, Georgina Dewhurst, Stephen Evans
Jimmy King, managing director at Pierce said: “It is fantastic to welcome five new members to our team. Each of them brings valuable knowledge and experience, spanning digital tax, accounts and client services.
“Our new trainees will benefit from ongoing training and support and guidance from senior members of our team.
“The business has had a great start to 2019. With our new recruits on board, we’re hoping to have an even stronger finish to the year.”
Pierce, which recently celebrated its 90th birthday, has 65 employees who cover all areas of running a business and provides not only the critical numbers, but most importantly the advice that goes alongside them, from protection of assets, to structuring, R&D and much more.
