People on the Move: DWF; PM+M; YFM Equity Partners; Knights

DWF, the Manchester-based law firm, has recruited James Gee, Natasha Atkinson and Stewart Anderson as partners in its finance and corporate teams.

James Gee joins from EY and specialises in financial services regulation and private funds.

He will work with the wider corporate, banking and real estate teams to provide a full service offering to fund managers and funds clients, including transactional activity and regulatory advice.

Natasha Atkinson joins as partner within the banking & finance group. She joins from Weightmans where she is recognised for her focus on domestic and international insolvency work.

Stewart Anderson

She advises a variety of funds, investment and clearing banks, corporates, management teams, property advisors as well as restructuring professionals.

She has experience as a specialist insolvency litigator advising on all aspects of insolvency and securities disputes, in particular advising insolvency practitioners on both contentious and transactional matters.

Stewart Anderson also joins the banking & finance practice from BCLP. Stewart advises banks, financial institutions and corporates on mid-market restructuring, including on a wide range of debt restructures, refinancings, disposals and managed exits.

Iain Shurwood, head of banking & finance at DWF, said: “We are delighted to welcome Natasha and Stewart to the London team. Their focus on restructuring and insolvency work perfectly complements our growing global business and provides us with additional skills that are increasingly relevant in the current economic climate.”

Frank Shephard, national head of corporate at DWF, added: “The arrival of James into our corporate group in London futher enhances our offering in the funds finance market following the recruitment of Ted Harrison into the London banking & finance team last month. It demonstrates the continuing growth in the strength and size of our London Corporate Team.”

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PM+M, the Blackburn- and Bury-based chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group, has announced that Jill Morris has been promoted to partner.

Jill joined PM+M from CLB Coopers in 2016 and is FCA qualified.

Prior to her promotion she was director of the firm’s cloud accounting team which has seen significant growth over the past two years and since the introduction of Making Tax Digital last year.

Jill’s role is focused on advising owner-managed businesses.

Jill Morris

She is also continuing to expand and build on cutting edge technological and innovation solutions to help drive growth and efficiencies for the firm’s clients.

Jill said: “The last four years have been fantastic so being made a partner is a real milestone in my career – especially as myself and the whole cloud accounting team have worked incredibly hard to develop our cloud/digital service.

“I’m now focused on helping to shape the direction PM+M takes in the future as we continue to be a forward thinking practice with a true sense of doing the right thing for our colleagues, clients and the wider community.”

Jane Parry, managing partner, said: “Since joining us Jill has become an integral part of PM+M and has added huge value to the firm and the businesses she works with.

“Even though we are currently in unprecedented and uncertain times, we know that our team is our biggest asset and that they are the ones who will help to get both us and our clients back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Jane added: “We are delighted that Jill is now a partner and we are sure that she will play a vital role in our continued growth over the coming years.”

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YFM Equity Partners is continuing to expand its team with the appointment of Laura Sissons as investment manager.

Based in the firm’s Manchester office, Laura will support YFM’s investment team in the origination of new growth capital and buyout opportunities, predominantly in the North West.

Laura joins from KPMG’s transaction services team in Manchester, where she worked with management teams and private equity firms on a wide range of mid-market transactions, predominantly in the business services and industrial sectors.

Andy Thomas, partner at YFM in Manchester, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Laura to the team at YFM as we continue to build our presence in the North West.

Laura Sissons

“Despite the current difficult circumstances, we’re committed to continuing our new investment activity and this appointment is an important part of helping unlock new growth capital and buyout opportunities across the region.”

Laura Sisson said: “This is a really exciting time to be joining YFM. I look forward to learning from such a well-regarded team and supporting its continued success in partnering with ambitious growth businesses and management teams nationwide.”

Dan Freed, partner at YFM, added: “We have invested significantly in our team in recent months as we engage with an increasing number of entrepreneurial businesses which are seeking funding to support their growth plans and realise their potential.

“We are confident that we will see strong propositions from businesses that are demonstrating resilience and adapting to the new environment.”

YFM typically invests between £3m and £10m per transaction into businesses with strong growth potential located across the UK regions through YFM’s network of offices in London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

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Legal and professional services businesses Knights has appointed Malcolm Pike and James Keogh as partners in its employment team, working across the group’s offices in the North West and expanding its expertise and presence in the region.

Malcolm is a well-known senior figure in the North West legal and business communities with international recognition in the field of employment law and extensive NED and management experience across industry.

With more than 30 years’ experience working with FTSE-100 and international boards, as well as local SME owners and investors, Malcolm has a strong reputation for advising on some of the most sensitive and high-profile employment law and industrial relations matters.

Based across Knights’ Wilmslow and Manchester offices, Malcolm will support the group’s growth ambitions across the North West.

Employment team. Back row, from left: Malcolm Pike, Sally Hulston, Ed Gregory, Josie Procter. Front: Carly Mather, Tessa Rodgerson, Carly Hayle

Malcolm said: “I am delighted to join Knights at an exciting time, with the employment team showing great momentum in recent months.

“Having known the business for many years, I was attracted by its unique approach, strong culture, values and focus on its people. I look forward to joining back up with the team and supporting Knights’ growth ambitions in the North West.”

James, who will join Knights as partner on May 18, brings more than 11 years’ experience in employment law.

Primarily based in the Leeds office, James will further strengthen the group’s offering in Yorkshire. He is a trusted adviser to a number of household names, with a particular focus on the retail, manufacturing and food sectors.

These appointments will serve to further strengthen the platform Knights has developed through its investment in its practices across its regions.

Alongside strong growth in new joiners, Knights’ employment team has been further boosted by colleagues joining in Nottingham, Crawley and Leeds by way of acquisitive growth, taking the total number of employment lawyers across its 15 offices to 55.