Appointments: BDO boosts corporate finance team; Forbes; Pinsents; Hill Dickinson and more

ACCOUNTANCY firm BDO has announced partner Tim Clarke as its new Northern head of corporate finance.

In his new role Mr Clarke, who replaces Gordon Lane, has responsibility for the Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow corporate finance teams. He joined BDO in 2003 to launch the corporate finance practice in Leeds and has more than 20 years experience.

The firm has made a number of other appointments in corporate finance in Manchester. Rob Dawes has joined as an associate director after four years at Grant Thornton. Prior to this he worked at PwC and KPMG.

M&A specialist Nicola Gibbs has been promoted to a director within the team, along with Tom Wildig, James Gregson and James Fieldhouse.

Tim Clarke said: “We have a great team of people in Manchester and in order to keep developing the business we continue to promote fantastic people.  Rob’s appointment demonstrates our ability to attract an excellent calibre of professionals who are focused on delivering exceptional client service and commercial advice.”

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LANCASHIRE law firm Forbes has made two appointments in its commercial property department.

Marc Appleton, formerly with Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester has joined Forbes’ Preston office as an associate solicitor and Liam Mcardle
has joined the Blackburn office as a solicitor after completing his training contract with the firm.

Forbes’ managing partner John Barker said: “The appointment of both Marc and Liam shows that it isn’t all doom and gloom in the commercial property market as is often reported. The growth of the team is a direct result of new client wins for the department.”

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PAMELA Young, former head of property at Pinsent Masons in Manchester, has joined law firm Berg as a consultant.
 
She worked for several years at Pinsents with Ian Barker, who now heads the property team at Berg, based in Peter Street, Manchester.
 
Ms Young was responsible for setting up Pinsents’ Manchester-based property team in 2004, growing it to a team of more than 20. She previously worked at DLA Piper for eight years.

“Berg has an excellent reputation in the marketplace and Reuben Berg is very well connected in the business community,” she said. “I am delighted to be joining such an entrepreneurial firm and as I am experienced in building and developing teams, I believe my new role will enable me to make a real difference.”
 
Berg’s property team has also taken on assistant solicitor Sarah Fecitt. Ms Fecitt, who is originally from Manchester, has spent the past four years with Birketts in Chelmsford, Essex.
 
Ian Barker said: “Pam and I were a successful team at Pinsents and I am confident that we will be able to replicate this at Berg. I am really looking forward to working with her again, and also welcoming Sarah into the team.”

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THE Manchester office of law firm Hill Dickinson has appointed former Addleshaw Goddard legal director Moya Clifford to its commercial litigation team as a professional support lawyer.
 
Her role includes training the team on new legal developments and legislation, supporting with any legal queries and raising the profile of the department across the regions it services.

Her primary focus will be on Manchester and Liverpool where she will be working closely with head of commercial litigation, Geraldine Ryan.
 
She said: “I am delighted to be joining a firm with such drive and motivation for growth. I am thoroughly impressed by the calibre of the people and work carried out by the commercial litigation team, and look forward to helping the team accomplish its ambitious development plans.”

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A SOLICITOR with a track record of supporting good causes in the Chester area has been made a trustee of the city’s oldest charity.

Clive Pointon, head of wills, trusts and tax at Aaron & Partners, has joined the board at Chester Municipal Charities.

Chester Municipal Charities, which dates back to 1659, offers financial support to various organisations and individuals in the area.

Chairman Peter Catherall said: “Over recent years we have been re-structuring the charity, and developing a capable team of experienced individuals who each have a particular role in taking it forward.

“Clive’s legal expertise will add a valuable tier of knowledge and experience to supplement the skill set of existing trustees, which is essential to ensuring we are prepared for future challenges.”

Mr Pointon said: “Chester Municipal Charities has a fascinating history and is still extremely active today. It maintains almshouses, which is relatively rare these days, and continues to offer vital support to deserving people and groups in and around the city.

“I am thrilled to be appointed and hope to make a valuable contribution to the charity and its beneficiaries in the coming months and years.”