People: Private Client Solicitors; Together; HF; Mint Property Finance; PM+M; Aztec
Boutique law firm Private Client Solicitors (PCS) has announced a series of promotions as it continues to expand.
The fast-growing Manchester firm has promoted Lucy Fairey to senior associate, Michelle Tonge and Naomi Isherwood to associates, and Charlie Caine to solicitor apprentice.
Dania Musa, Emily Taylor and Foziah Syed have been promoted to paralegals.
Founder and managing partner, Tasnim Khalid, said: “I am proud of the work the team has done since establishing Private Client Solicitors less than two years ago.
“Each of these promotions highlights the strength and talent we have across the business and the impact they have made in a short space of time. They have all worked exceptionally hard and I am delighted to see their careers progress within the practice.”
Since launching, PCS has gone from strength to strength with several accolades and awards. In 2022 the firm was awarded Emerging Law Firm of the Year by Chambers HNW Guide. PCS was also ranked as Band One in the Chambers HNW Guide and featured as a “firm to watch” in the Legal 500. Tasnim has also been honoured with Returner of the Year at the Women in Diversity Law Awards held in London earlier this year.
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John Barker
Cheadle-based specialist lender Together has bolstered its executive team by appointing experienced financial services leader John Barker as the group’s chief operating officer.
In his new role, John will take responsibility for operations across the business, which provides personal and commercial secured finance and has a loan book of £6.2bn.
John said: “I’m really passionate about purpose-led leadership and responsible lending and Together’s common sense approach and its dedication to providing flexible products is something that has appealed to me for a long time. One of my first major tasks will be looking into the digital customer journey, so that we can cater for all our customers, no matter what route they want to take to communicate with us.”
Gerald Grimes, Together’s CEO designate, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to welcome someone of John’s calibre and experience to this new role. John has a proven track record of people and purpose-led service and technology transformation.”
Richard Topliss
Together has also announced that an industry leader with more than four decades of banking experience has joined the group to advise its corporate team.
Richard Topliss, the former managing director of corporate banking in the North for NatWest, joined as a consultant to its corporate team on July 1. He said: “I have known Together for more than 20 years, and have been inspired by its success and values in becoming one of the most amazing privately-owned financial services business in the country.”
Chris Baguley, corporate MD at Together, said he was “proud” to welcome Richard who has an “incredible reputation across the sector.” He said: “Richard is very well known across the North West and the wider UK market and is someone both myself and the group executive have always respected enormously.”
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Peter Millican
Peter Millican, an experienced and highly regarded corporate lawyer, has joined HF, formerly Horwich Farrelly, as partner and head of corporate, based in Manchester and Yorkshire.
Peter has more than 30 years’ experience and a first class reputation as a corporate lawyer, having worked in high profile roles across the UK and overseas, including roles as an in-house legal adviser to a FTSE 100 Bank and founding his own boutique M&A legal advisory practice.
His work has included all sizes of corporate transactions, the largest of which was a £15.4bn flotation, and a broad range of commercial law including private equity, venture capital, banking, and corporate finance.
Peter’s arrival further supports the commercial team at HF, which has quickly expanded to more than 30 specialists reaffirming its growing reputation as a full service law firm. Peter is tasked with further supporting the rapid expansion of the corporate team with a focus on M&A work, and private equity and venture capital clients.
Peter Millican said: “The depth of expertise and focus on clients across the business is a major reason for me joining HF and I’m looking forward to putting my energy into the next phase of growth of the commercial team.”
Ronan McCann, CEO and managing partner, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Peter into our corporate and commercial team. The addition of such a high profile corporate lawyer will help drive the growth plans for our contentious and non-contentious commercial legal services.”
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Hannah Lamb
Specialist finance lender, Mint Property Finance, has welcomed Hannah Lamb to the business as a bridging underwriter, increasing capacity to continue to exceed borrower requirements.
Joining from Fluent Money, Hannah has worked in the financial services sector since 2017, and is now making the move from brokerage to lender.
The hire follows a recent flurry of new arrivals, with the Altrincham-based company having recently appointed Steve Smith as head of sales as well as Simon Micklethwaite as senior business development manager.
In Hannah’s new role at Mint, she joins an accomplished bridging underwriting team led by B&C Power List winner, Adam Robson, who said: “I am thrilled that Hannah is joining the team. She is bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and I can’t wait for her to hit the ground running.
“Her appointment further bolsters what is already a strong team, meaning we’ll be able to underwrite even more cases.”
Hannah Lamb said: “I am grateful to be given the opportunity to join the team.”
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Latest PM+M promotions
Blackburn and Bury-based PM+M, the chartered accountancy, business advisory and financial planning group, has made 12 promotions across the business.
Four new directors have been confirmed. They are: Tara Maynard, financial planning; Sharon Trebilcock, risk and compliance; Rosie Cooper, cloud accounting; and Terri Green, marketing and business development.
In the tax team, Andrew Kirkaldy and Mark Richmond have both been promoted to manager level, while Laura Whewell becomes an assistant manager. Reece Eccles and Megan Tattersall, who work in the payroll team, have also been promoted to assistant manager.
The final tranche of promotions comprises Katie Marshall, who is now a senior adviser specialising in cloud accounting; Katie Tomlinson, who sits in the accounting + advisory team and is now an adviser; and Rebecca Campbell, who becomes the firm’s newest marketing and business development senior executive.
Managing partner, Jane Parry, said: “Every single one of these promotions is hugely deserved and reflects the dedication and skills each person has. Their commitment to delivering both for clients and our own internal team is unwavering. I’m really proud of them all and I am looking forward to seeing them further flourish over the next 12 months.”
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Colin Clayton, left, and Tony Pyper
Commercial and Industrial work space experts, Aztec, has appointed Colin Clayton as contracts manager, as part of the firm’s ongoing growth and expansions plans, on the back of a successful three years that has seen turnover grow 20% year on year, reaching £7m in 2023.
Colin joins the senior management team following a company buyout in 2021, a significant turning point for the business which has seen a shift in focus operationally, strategically and culturally.
The Liverpool-based firm is now owned solely by Iain Peacock, Tony Pyper and Dave Pennington, all of whom have been part of the company for many years. Iain said: “Colin coming on board is a real coup as he is one of the best within this particular discipline. He will lead the furniture team, collaborating with more suppliers and distributors, as well as delivering fit-out projects, presenting ideas to clients that really do match the brief.”
Colin has worked in the interiors and fit out business for more than 25 years. He said: “After lock down, there has been a huge shift in how a person wants to work, where they feel most comfortable, how much time they want to spend in the office – no one wants to sit behind a desk for eight hours each day. However, with more and more people keen to come back to the workplace, from an employer perspective, it’s about creating an environment that stimulates productivity.”
