People: Construction firm secures investment from new directors; Law firm’s family team expands; and more

Solihull-based Greswolde Construction, a construction company which specializes in the education, healthcare, housing, commercial and industrial sectors and has an annual turnover of around £20m, has secured investment from two new directors.

In a deal led by corporate finance specialists Watersheds, construction engineer Perry Stewart and chartered accountant Shaun Walsh have invested in the business, with ownership now shared between them and Malcolm Priest.

Construction director Chris Harrison continues in his role.

Priest purchased Greswolde Construction in 1995, but felt the business should be less dependent on him and that the time was right to build a larger, stronger senior team.

He said: “I want to see the business thrive. The COVID-19 pandemic has been very challenging for the construction industry, however as we are waking up to face a new normal, I think it is the right time for me to step down and hand over some of my responsibilities to a highly experienced team who can meet those challenges so that Greswolde Construction has a strong and resilient future.”

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A Midlands law firm has expanded its family division amid rising demand for its services including advice around cohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements.

mfg Solicitors has welcomed newly-qualified lawyers Amy McGowan-Docherty and Katie Banks to its family team where they will work across the firm’s offices in Worcestershire, Shropshire and Birmingham alongside head of department Claire Backler, partners Katherine Tippetts, Gurdip Brring, Alison Webber and senior associate Rupinder Nandra.

The growth of mfg’s 13-strong family division comes as the team are responding to rising numbers of enquiries for their specialist advice.

Claire Backler, partner and head of the family division at mfg Solicitors, said: “We have remained busy throughout the pandemic as people re-evaluated their lives, but  we have been experiencing a further upturn in demand for our services as people look to the future. This includes more people wanting to formalise cohabitation agreements without getting married and a host of other marital and family issues.

“As fewer and fewer couples opt for marriage, this is an area of work that is going to become increasingly important in order to ensure that everyone’s rights and obligations to their partners are set out in the event that the relationship ends.

“For those couples who do tie the knot, more of them do so later in life when they have perhaps acquired more in terms of their own assets and wealth – leading to greater numbers of people opting for nuptial agreements.

“This, along with people wanting to ensure that their wishes will be acted upon following their death and that their loved ones will be able to inherit their estate, has also led to a rise in demand for succession planning.

“It’s for all these reasons and more that we’re delighted to have Amy and Katie join our team. They are two stars of the future, already hugely popular with clients, and will add another dimension to our family offering.”

mfg has offices in Kidderminster, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Telford, Ludlow and Birmingham.

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The Institute of Directors (IoD) is to strengthen its West Midlands team, led by regional chair Inez Brown, by appointing a new vice-chair.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting Brown, who was appointed regional chair in July 2021.

She is partner and head of clinical negligence at the Medical Accident Group, part of Harrison Clark Rickerbys, and the first black president of the Birmingham Law Society.

Brown said: “Applicants for this voluntary role should be IoD members who live or work in the West Midlands. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of our efforts to support and inspire directors to rebuild and prosper.

“In return for your time and expertise, we offer opportunities to grow your network and influence the operation of the IoD in the region.”

IoD West Midlands has four branches: Greater Birmingham; Worcester and the Marches; Black Country and Staffordshire; and Coventry and Warwickshire.