People: Law firm expands employment team; PwC hire for Dalriada’s Birmingham office

Law firm Thursfields has added twolawyers to its employment law team.

Emma Monk joins as an associate, having trained with a London firm before relocating to the Midlands.

She has extensive tribunal litigation experience and joins Thursfields’ Black Country office to work alongside James Monk.

James Monk, a senior associate, has particular knowledge and expertise working with Third Sector clients.

Lauren Cope recently qualified as a solicitor with Squire Patton Boggs and joins Thursfields’ employment team working alongside Jade Linton.

Senior associate Linton was recently a plenary speaker at the national conference for the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals and is a skilled adviser on TUPE and discrimination issues. She has particular knowledge and expertise working with manufacturing and retail clients.

Michelle O’Hara, head of team, said: “Our expanding team of specialist employment solicitors is a reflection of the firm’s growth in the region.

“People issues can be complex and costly and so require careful handling.  Whether it’s a restructure affecting 300 employees or a settlement agreement for an individual, employers need early expert and practical advice. Every client has different needs and we work hard to understand their business becoming a trusted adviser.”

:::

Dalriada Trustees, one of the largest providers of independent professional trustee services to pensions schemes in the UK, has announced the appointment of Charles Ward as a professional trustee.

Ward joins from the pensions advisory team at PwC and will be based in Dalriada’s Birmingham office.

He is a qualified actuary with almost 25 years’ experience of advising companies and trustees on long-term pension scheme strategy and innovative funding, investment and benefit design projects.

Prior roles with PwC, KMPG and Mercer have included work on a range of complex restructuring situations for distressed sponsors (including PPF compromises), implementation of member options exercises, PPF Levy management advice and numerous corporate transactions, including clearance applications to The Pension Regulator.

His appointment further builds the extensive pool of experience in Dalriada’s Birmingham office and adds to the company’s now 160 strong team across the UK office network in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and London.

Tom Lukic, director and head of the Midlands business at Dalriada, said: “To remain at the forefront of professional pension trusteeship, it is critical that we continue to invest in our people and capability. Charles brings a wealth of knowledge and a highly complementary skillset to Dalriada helping pension schemes navigate the increasingly demanding world of scheme governance. I am sure that he will make an extremely valuable contribution to our business, across the Midlands and beyond.”

Ward added: “As one of the leading professional trustee firms in the market, I am delighted to be joining Dalriada. Its work across a diverse range of pension schemes managing a range of unique and varied situations presents an exciting challenge. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for the members of all the schemes that Dalriada helps govern.”