People: Key hire for private equity firm LDC; Law firm boosts civil litigation team

Private equity firm LDC has strengthened its West Midlands team with the appointment of investment director Richard Godwin.

With more than 20 years experience in corporate finance, Godwin has extensive knowledge of how private equity can help management teams to realise a range of different growth plans. He has advised businesses across a number of sectors including industrials, healthcare, retail, and consumer.

Godwin joins LDC from Create Investments, an investment business he founded to support the growth of SMEs across the UK. Prior to this, he spent 13 years as a director at global investment bank Rothschild & Co, where he acted as lead adviser and provided strategic advice on more than 40 transactions.

Based in Birmingham, he will support the firm’s commitment to invest in 100 medium-sized businesses nationally over the next five years.

This appointment follows a busy year for the team, during which LDC made a significant minority investment in international warehouse safety, impact protection and storage equipment provider, IWS Group, to support a continued buy and build strategy.

The team also successfully exited Leamington Spa-based Solid Solutions, a leading reseller of 3D design software, to TriMech. This followed a two-year partnership that enabled the team to complete two complementary acquisitions and increase revenues by more than 35%.

LDC continues to work closely with the management teams of its broad portfolio of businesses. Earlier this year, the private equity firm supported technical component manufacturer Cardel to acquire Hannover-based VTT a market leading supplier of components within the identification market. Its portfolio also includes specialist engineering business ELE, pensions support services provider Ross Trustees and Worcester-headquartered Kingswood, a supplier of mobility support products.

Godwin said: “LDC’s depth of experience across multiple sectors, their ability to add value to their portfolio companies, and reputation for successfully supporting the region’s standout business growth stories, is unmatched in the UK. I’m looking forward to work with Chris and the LDC team to help more business leaders to realise their growth ambitions.”

Chris Handy, partner and head of LDC in the West Midlands, added: “Richard’s appointment underlines our commitment to increase our support for businesses across the West Midlands. He brings a wealth of experience having supported businesses and worked with advisers in our region for over 20 years. I’m excited to have him on board.”
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Law firm mfg Solicitors has expanded its civil litigation team with the appointment of a new senior associate.

Specialist lawyer David Lydon has joined mfg and will play a key role leading on cases around clinical negligence and personal injury claims.

Reporting to partner and head of department Sam Pedley, he joins mfg after five years at Sydney Mitchell and will be based at the firm’s St Paul’s Square offices in central Birmingham.

Pedley said: “David brings a wealth of experience to the firm and our department after successfully acting across a huge variety of clinical negligence and personal injury claims over a distinguished 30-year career.

“His vast knowledge and expertise on all manner of claims, particularly cases which are complex, adds another dimension to the team as we look to expand our litigation work, particularly our clinical negligence and personal injury offering. He is already making a difference with a variety of clients he is working with.”

Lydon added: “The firm’s exceptional reputation, ambition and excellence around personal injury and clinical negligence cases were the main reasons behind my decision to join.

“I know the firm and the Birmingham market well so I am excited to have the opportunity to develop and expand our offering in the city and across the wider region.”

It is four years since mfg Solicitors moved into the Birmingham market following the 2018 merger with historic firm, Pearson Rowe, a firm where Lydon previously worked.