Appointments: Law firms promotions; MAG chairman to step down & more

JAMES Cameron has been promoted to partner in the restructuring team in the Manchester office of law firm Pinsent Masons.

He is one of 15 partner promotions the firm has made across its international offices.

Helen Ridge, head of Manchester office said: “James Cameron is well known in the region and has worked on some of the biggest administrations in the North West.  

“He was marked as an associate to watch in the Chambers directory and the team won insolvency law firm of the year at the Insolvency & Rescue Awards last year.”

The promotions will take effect from 1 May 2014.

::

NICHE law firm Croftons Solicitors has promoted Melanie Dirom as a partner.

She joined the property specialist in 2012 from Brabners and has set up Croftons’ housing management and tenancy enforcement team.

Managing partner Simon Leighton said: “Since the first time I met Melanie, I recognised a highly talented and energetic individual who would spearhead the vision we had to expand our services to registered providers (housing associations).

“Clients had told us that they valued our property, commercial property and housing development expertise and would welcome a broader range of services, hence the recruitment of Melanie.”

::

MIKE Davies OBE, chairman of  Manchester Airports Group (MAG), is to step down from the board, after a 45-year career in business.

He has served as MAG’s chairman since April 2009 and has led the board through a period of rapid growth that has included the acquisition of London Stansted in February 2013 and the announcement of Airport City at Manchester.

Speaking on behalf of the shareholders in the group, Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said”We’re grateful to Mike for steering the group through an important period in its history, and he leaves MAG poised and ready for the next stage of its development.”

Charlie Cornish, chief executive of MAG, added: “Mike has had a pivotal role in the growth of MAG, helping to transform the company into what it is today. We’re grateful for his guidance and sound advice over the last five years and we wish him well for the future.”

::

LAYTONS, the corporate and commercial law firm Laytons has appointed banking specialist Andrew Gosnay as a partber in Manchester to lead its national banking and finance team.

Christine Barker, managing partner of the firm’s Manchester office said: “Andrew’s arrival is a reflection of our continued growing reputation in the Manchester/North West marketplace and our ability to provide market-leading legal advice.”

Mr Gosnay, who left Pannone last year, said: “Laytons is a firm committed to the needs of all clients whether they are major international banks or borrowers looking to source funding on competitive terms with workable structures that do not restrict the growth and flexibility of the underlying business and operations.”

::

LAW firm Hill Dickinson has strengthened its commercial and private client team in Manchester.

James Clayton joins as an associate in the commercial team from DWF and will work alongside partner, Mark Fitzgibbon to bolster the team’s public sector procurement expertise, particularly in the healthcare sector.

Meanwhile Jane Lee is joining the firm’s private client team, She has 11 years’ experience in advising high net worth individuals and professional trust companies in relation to all manner of trusts, wills, tax planning and residence and domicile issues.

In addition to the new hires, the firm has welcomed five new assistants to its Manchester office. Tim Ibbotson, Satte Boporan and Sophie Castell join the fraud team, Andrew Jones joins the Insurance team and Rhain Hughes joins corporate.

::

CLARE Lloyd has joined Bury-based DTE Business Advisers as a senior tax manager.

She joines from BDO where she spent over six years as a tax manager within the legacy PKF division of the newly merged firm, having previously worked at Deloitte and KPMG in Manchester.

George Lovell, tax partner, DTE Business Advisers said “Clare represents a strategic appointment for the firm – her broad base and depth of experience will strengthen and expand DTE’s presence within the North West and means that we will be able to provide a wider variety of added-value services to our existing and expanding client base.”

::

SURVEYOR Roger Hannah & Co has recruited Mike Hall as property financial controller.

He joins from NCC Group where he was management accountant for five-and-a-half years providing financial analysis and support.

Finance and operations director Andy Clifford said: “I am delighted to welcome Mike to the finance team. Mike will lead a team dedicated to managing client finances with the same care as if they were their own ensuring strong financial governance in respect of client money and also maximising client revenues in the complex world of service charges and utilities.”