Appointments: Brabners boosts commercial team; Barclays Wealth & more

NORTH West law firm Brabners Chaffe Street has made a double hire in its Liverpool commercial team.

Solicitor Michael Winder joins the firm having previously worked at Dickinson Dees in Newcastle and, more recently, in-house for Cumbria County Council.  

The other newcomer is Hayley Hall, who has a degree in chemistry with patent law. She joins from Shell where she worked as an intellectual property strategist.

Nik White, partner and head of the commercial team in Liverpool said: “Michael and Hayley’s appointments will help us to innovate and further develop our unique position in Liverpool in offering a complete range of commercial and intellectual property services.

“In particular they will add to the depth and breadth of our intellectual property expertise and enable us to build on our rapidly growing public procurement offering.”

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BARCLAYS has made two experienced hires in its wealth management business in Manchester.

Elizabeth Bird joins the team from UBS where she spent six years as a director managing the wealth of private clients in the North West and London. Samantha Beach, who has been hired from Coutts & Co, is a specialist in wealth management services for entrepreneurs and business owners and has over eight years’ experience in private banking.

Alan Edwards, regional director of wealth and investment management, said: “Both new recruits have gained recognition across the region for the quality of their work and, as our office continues to grow, we look forward to benefitting from the impact that Elizabeth and Samantha will have here.”

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DAVID Casement QC has been elected chairman of legal network the Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association (NCCBA).

Mr Casement, who is the first member of Manchester-based set Kings Chambers to be elected to lead the NCCBA, will take over on March 1.

He said: “It is an honour to have taken over as chairman of the NCCBA as it develops a continuing programme of education and commercial networking opportunities for legal practitioners in the North of England.”

The NCCBA was formed in 1996 and represents the interests of commercial law barristers on the Northern circuit providing CPD training for barristers and solicitors as well as social events.

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ALAN Whalley, former UK chief executive of employee benefits specialist Mercer, has joined Palatine Private Equity-backed WEALTH at work as its new chairman.
 
Whalley is a qualified actuary who retired from Mercer at the end of 2012. Previously he has held senior positions at Watson Wyatt including European managing partner and US regional manager.
 
David Cassidy, chief executive officer at Liverpool-based WEALTH at work, said: “We are exceptionally pleased that Alan has joined us, as he brings with him a strong industry reputation. As an acknowledged leader in UK pensions and investments, he will be an invaluable member of the team as WEALTH at work continues to build momentum. In particular, Alan’s experience in building large businesses will be of significant benefit to the management team.”

Wealth at Work offers financial advice for employers.

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MANCHESTER-based Tangerine PR has appointed Ian Pettigrew of Kingfisher Coaching as a non-executive director.

The firm said he will help deliver a development programme for staff.

Managing director Sandy Lindsay said: “One of the many good things about being a bigger agency is that we can be flexible in allowing people to specialise in what they’re good at and enjoy. We know that, when people are playing to their strengths they do great work, are more engaged in what they do, support clients better and are happier.”