People: Wealth manager strengthens Birmingham corporate services offering; Law firm makes string of promotions; and more

Tilney Smith & Williamson, the wealth management and professional services group which is re-branding to Evelyn Partners this summer, has strengthened its corporate services offering in Birmingham with senior appointments in its professional services business.

Steve Hale joins the firm as an audit partner and Paul Twist becomes an associate director focusing on employment tax & share schemes.

Meanwhile, Annabel Mason has been promoted to director in the business tax team.

The appointments come as the group’s Birmingham wealth management and professional services teams will shortly move into new offices at the city’s landmark 103 Colmore Row.

Tilney Smith & Williamson’s new Birmingham office will accommodate around 170 people.

Hale joins Tilney Smith & Williamson from BDO where he spent nine years as an audit partner and has a strong focus on the West Midlands market. Prior to BDO he worked at PwC, latterly as director.

Twist also joins the group from BDO where he spent five years as an associate director focusing on employment tax & share schemes. Prior to that he worked for Grant Thornton and HMRC.

Mason joined Tilney Smith & Williamson’s business tax team in September 2020. She delivers practical and commercial tax solutions and specialises in transaction-based work including re-organisations, management buyouts and business sales. She also has extensive experience in Stamp Duty Land Taxes.

Stephen Drew, professional services regional managing partner at Tilney Smith & Williamson in Birmingham, said: “Steve and Paul join our professional services team in Birmingham at an exciting time for the business as we shortly move into our new landmark offices at 103 Colmore Road and prepare to re-brand to Evelyn Partners this summer. We have ambitious plans to grow our team to keep pace with the demand we are seeing from high quality family-owned businesses and their private interests from across the Midlands. Steve and Paul both bring extensive corporate services experience and their appointments form part of our commitment to continue investing in the region. I would also like to congratulate Annabel on her well-deserved promotion to director.”

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Law firm mfg Solicitors has announced ten promotions which includes five new partners and two senior associates.

Residential property specialist Javed Ahmed is promoted to partner and will continue in his role as head of the firm’s Residential Conveyancing team. In the same division, Nichola Wilson also becomes a partner.

Family law expert Rupinder Nandra has also been promoted to partner, alongside Lisa Morrison in the firm’s Commercial Property department, and trusts and estates lawyer in the Private Client team, Tom Evans.

mfg has also announced two senior associate promotions within its award-winning Agriculture and Rural Affairs team who look after the interests of farmers, landowners and rural businesses – with highly respected lawyers Tom Bell and Hannah Taylor being promoted.

Meanwhile, the firm has also confirmed that wills and probate specialist Ellie Newman, corporate lawyer Matt Allen, and litigation expert Stephanie Rushfirth, have each been promoted to associate level.

Maynard Burton, partner and chairman of mfg Solicitors said: “We are expanding in a variety of areas with more and more people and businesses looking to us for professional advice. This means we must have nothing but the best teams in place so I am delighted with these latest promotions across a wide spectrum of expertise.

“To see five hugely experienced lawyers step up to become partners is another proud moment for us and they will prove to be superb appointments in the months and years ahead.

“Meanwhile, having many more rising stars stepping up to become senior associates and associates shows we are well prepared for the future in a number of specialisms.”

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Warwick-based L&Q Estates has appointed Kathryn Hemingway and Jonny Dodd as associate land directors while Natasha Brand has been promoted to senior strategic land manager.

The appointments are part of a growth plan at the 45-strong L&Q Estates which moved into new headquarters in Hyperion House at Tachbrook Park earlier this year.

Hemingway started her career by joining the graduate training programme at Cushman & Wakefield in Birmingham which gave her the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of surveying roles.

She then moved to IM Land in Solihull to focus on strategic land where she worked across the country until securing her new role at L&Q Estates.

Dodd will have responsibility for the South West which is an area he knows well having begun his property career over 23 years ago.

During this time, he has worked in a wide variety of residential agency and development roles, and has built long-standing relationships with landowners, agents and other industry professionals.

Brand has been promoted from strategic land manager after moving to L&Q Estates from a land agency in the South West in 2018 and she will have responsibility for the South East of England.

Adrian Clack, land director at L&Q Estates, said the new land team would be concentrating on sourcing land with development potential throughout the UK.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome Kathryn and Jonny to the team and I would also like to congratulate Natasha on her promotion which is thoroughly deserved.

“We have an experienced team who are always willing to listen to landowners and agents because we know that, for many, leaving a lasting legacy is really important.

“The move to our new headquarters in Warwick earlier this year emphasises the direction of the business as we look to expand an already very successful business.”

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West Midlands construction consultancy Feasibility has welcomed Kadi Ouattara to its team as an apprentice quantity surveyor.

She joins the company in her third year of University of Wolverhampton’s Chartered Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship, allowing her to learn while earning and gaining experience in a working environment.

Supported by her university tutor and skills coach on the Degree Apprenticeship programme, Ouattara is studying contracts, on-site construction works and project control, whilst also building experience of working with the team, company clients, and a range of construction professionals and operatives.

She joins Feasibility’s trainee quantity surveyor, Elliot Walker-Drew, who joined the company prior to beginning his own university degree and who is now in his second year.

Ouattara said: “I’ve always had a great interest in the built environment and this course has allowed me to obtain a foothold in this industry. It was the best choice for me as I am part of a team that aids my learning, encourages me, and helps me gain professional experience whilst I’m able to earn to support my family.”

Feasibility director Seb Rose said: “We’re delighted to welcome Kadi to the family and to provide her with the opportunity to progress both professionally and academically. She’s already fully immersed in a number of projects and proving to be a fantastic member of the team. It’s vital for companies like ourselves to support apprenticeship-based development in our industry, helping future generations develop the skills to keep pushing the industry forward.”