People on the Move: Hill Dickinson; Glenbrook; RSM; AJ Bell; Simpson Judge
Two new hires at commercial law firm Hill Dickinson are paving the way to further growth of the firm’s Liverpool-based construction and engineering team.
Senior associates Joanna Maddocks and Sam Beer have both joined Hill Dickinson in recent weeks, complementing the construction and engineering team’s legal services offering with added expertise in areas including public sector, transport, renewable energy and professional indemnity.
Welcoming them to the team, head of the construction and engineering team Alan Pugh said: “The addition of both Joanna and Sam at senior associate level is a reflection of the growing reputation in our team on a national and increasingly on an international stage.
“We pride ourselves in the quality of our team who offer a first class service delivering legal advice and strategic guidance as a trusted adviser to clients. We have a sustained growth strategy and I am delighted that Joanna and Sam have joined Hill Dickinson as we continue to build on the strength and depth that our team has to offer across the construction and engineering markets.”
He added: “Our clients typically operate in what is a hugely competitive sector with high costs and extremely tight margins, so having access to specialist quality legal advice is a critical success factor.”
Joanna Maddocks has particular experience in the delivery of transport projects including light rail extensions, guided bus lanes and the construction of transport exchange facilities. She has also advised on the procurement, construction and maintenance of renewable energy power plants with a particular emphasis on onshore wind farms.
Her expertise includes advising private and public sector clients on construction and engineering projects together with service and maintenance agreements. She can also provide legal advice and support in respect of public procurement and commercial tenders.
Sam Beer focuses on contentious construction, with a background in professional negligence disputes arising in all sectors of the construction industry. His experience includes advising on disputes relating to waste to energy plants, water treatment systems and cladding. He also provides legal advice and support in respect of general insurance and insurance coverage issues in construction.
In his time, Sam has dealt with disputes through litigation, arbitration and adjudication. In addition, Sam has extensive experience of alternative dispute resolution forums, such as mediation.
Hill Dickinson’s client base covers the spectrum across the construction and engineering industry nationally and internationally.
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Property investment and development company, Glenbrook, has announced the appointment of Scott Griffiths as a director in investment management.
Scott joins the Manchester firm from Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) where he had responsibility for a UK-wide portfolio of around £500m and he completed more than 30 transactions in excess of £400m across all sectors, geographies and deal types, including development.
While at ASI, Scott constructed a sub-fund focused on smaller, regional properties that consistently performed top in its MSCI index.
A chartered surveyor, Scott previously worked in national investment at Drivers Jonas/Deloitte where he gained significant experience asset managing distressed property portfolios and advising on acquisitions for private equity. Scott graduated from Manchester University with first class honours before completing a real estate conversion course at College of Estate Management, Reading.
Scott Griffiths
Director, Guy Butler, said: “To date, we have had notable success in our investment business working with a select number of family offices and high net-worth individuals.
“To complement and expand this offer we are now developing niche investment strategies exploring opportunities in regional markets. Scott has considerable experience in this area and we look forward to working with him to develop this strategy at a very interesting time in the real estate sector.”
Scott said: “This is an exciting role providing the freedom to build on Glenbrook’s success and work with investors that share our views on the increasing level of opportunity in regional markets, for dynamic strategies offering strong risk adjusted return.”
Scott will work alongside fellow investment directors Richard Rees and Chris Lloyd in the company’s growing investment team.
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Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has appointed Alastair Nuttall as a partner in Manchester to further strengthen its growing audit practice.
Alastair is a prominent adviser with more than 25 years’ experience acting for large plcs, owner-managed businesses and PE-backed high-growth companies. He joins from EY where he headed up the North West and Yorkshire audit practices.
He brings extensive audit and assurance knowledge to the team across a wide variety of sectors including retail, TMT, real estate and construction and manufacturing.
Alastair will work alongside RSM’s regional audit managing partner Jonathan Lowe and the wider 130-strong regional audit team to support a growing portfolio of fast-growing middle market businesses in the region and across the UK.
From left: Eric Solomons (office managing partner), Jonathan Lowe (regional managing partner) and Alastair Nuttall
Jonathan Lowe, RSM’s regional audit managing partner for the North West, said: “It’s great to have Alastair on board. The audit market is in a period of significant change and we are well-placed to support ambitious corporates across the North West with quality assurance expertise.
“Alastair’s appointment further strengthens our offering and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the region.”
Alastair added: “The best part of my job is working with entrepreneurial businesses looking to grow, so RSM is a perfect fit for me.
“I’m looking forward to drawing on my experience of working with established global businesses to deliver commercial, practical advice to help ambitious regional businesses prosper.”
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Manchester investment platform AJ Bell has recruited a record number of new apprentices to its headquarters in Salford Quays.
Following a successful apprenticeship careers day earlier this year, more than 500 applicants for the 2019 intake resulted in 14 successful candidates accepted on to two programmes.
Five have enrolled on to a Digital and Technology Services degree apprenticeship programme which AJ Bell is running for the first time.
The apprentices will undertake a four-year programme where they will work in AJ Bell’s technology services department at the same time as studying for a BSc with Manchester Metropolitan University.
Nine apprentices have started the successful investment operations specialist apprenticeship programme, which is now in its third year.
The latest AJ Bell apprentices, with Andy Bell
They will rotate around AJ Bell’s customer services teams to gain a broad understanding of the business during a two-year programme.
Some of its first cohort of apprentices have already completed their programmes and have done so with great success. All are now permanent members of staff in new roles across the business.
Chief executive Andy Bell, who personally welcomed the latest recruits on to the apprenticeship programme, said: “The apprenticeship scheme has become increasingly popular since we began in 2017, and we’re excited to welcome the new apprentices to AJ Bell to start their careers in financial services.
“With around six per cent of current AJ Bell employees in, or just completed the apprenticeship programme, we’re proud to champion the qualification wholeheartedly.
“The different insights offered by apprentices to our permanent staff are invaluable and have helped mould the business for future AJ Bell customers.”
He added: “Successful applicants have already had a crash course in investing before they start with their new teams, and will gain more essential work experience throughout the programme, with permanent roles up for grabs at the end of the scheme for those who show the necessary skills and application.”
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Simpson Judge has appointed Daniel Witterick as associate director responsible for the Manchester office.
This appointment signals a real focus on growth within the Manchester market with headcount to increase significantly over the next 12 months.
Prior to his move to Simpson Judge Daniel spent seven years with the Michael Page Group recruiting across finance, business administration and HR.
Dan was responsible for significant growth during his time at Michael Page and will be looking to have a similar impact on the Simpson Judge team in Manchester.
He will be working closely with directors Rob Simpson and Ben James to scale up the Manchester team in both headcount and revenue.
Daniel Witterick
The purpose of this appointment is to significantly increase the Simpson Judge offering for the existing and target client base in the Greater Manchester area.
Director Ben James said: “We see Manchester as a growing market and a significant opportunity for growth in addition to our offerings across the wider UK network. Dan will play a vital part in this and we are excited for what the future holds for the Manchester team.”
Simpson Judge currently has three offices in Preston, London and Manchester with ambitions to expand further in the UK and Overseas.
The client base ranges from large corporate clients through to local SME businesses. Specialist areas include executive appointments, finance, executive support and IT & systems.
Director Rob Simpson added: “Simpson Judge has grown to £1.3m turnover this year and we are excited to have made this appointment to facilitate further growth.”
