People: Mills & Reeve; SevenLiving; The Wigley Group
Simon Garbett has joined Mills & Reeve’s Birmingham office.
He joins from Squire Patton Boggs and is a high-profile commercial disputes lawyer with an expertise in complex commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution.
Garbett will continue to maintain and grow commercial disputes in Birmingham following the retirement of Steve Allen, partner and a leader in dispute resolution in the region.
His key focus will be on cross-border disputes, manufacturing, supply chain and product liability issues, particularly in the aerospace, automotive and industrial products sectors. He has a wealth of experience in dispute resolution and has represented commercial and government clients in a significant number of successful mediations.
Jayne Hussey, partner and head of the Birmingham office, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome Simon to Mills & Reeve. Simon’s breadth of knowledge and experience will be vital in helping the businesses we advise navigate a range of challenges effectively and provide expert support on any disputes which these businesses may face.”
Garbett said: “I’m thrilled to lead the Mills & Reeve commercial disputes team in Birmingham. It’s a very exciting time to be joining with significant ongoing investment taking place in business and the opportunity to deliver on the firm’s 2025 strategy. “It’s a very exciting time to be joining with significant ongoing investment taking place in the business and the opportunity to deliver on the firm’s 2025 plan. Mills & Reeve has a fantastic client base, quality work, brand reputation, and truly collegiate culture, firmly focused on client experience, delivery, and its own people.
“I expect to rapidly build on the excellent platform that already exists, to complement the firm’s significant influence in Birmingham, the wider Midlands market and beyond, both nationally and globally. We expect more companies will need dispute resolution support given current macroeconomic conditions and increasingly complex problems. “I’m confident the team are well-equipped to provide first class client service, innovative solutions, and value for money in helping clients navigate these complexities effectively.”
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SevenLiving, the lettings platform by SevenCapital Group, has announced the appointment of James Dunn as senior head of lettings.
Launched in 2019, SevenLiving is a full service residential lettings provider specialising in assured short term tenancy (AST) agreements, typically offered to tenants for a minimum of six months.
Dunn joins the business from UK property services company Leaders Romans Group with over 12 years experience of the property lettings industry.
He said: “I am thrilled to lead the lettings operation for Seven Living and ecstatic to be working alongside such a talented group of people. I am joining at a very exciting time for the business as we look to relaunch our assured shorthold tenancies offering for new and existing landlords during the peak in the market which has seen every property which we are bringing to market receiving record levels of interest.”
Charlotte Thursfield, CEO at SevenLiving, said: “We are delighted to welcome James to the SevenLiving team at what is a very exciting juncture for the business. He is a brilliant addition to the business who, alongside our growing team of lettings experts, will help drive forward the business as we look ahead to an exciting 12 months ahead for the company.”
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A Midlands-based property, development and construction firm has announced two senior appointments as it launches its new commercial team in the construction business.
Charles Hicks and Nick Southern have been appointed at The Wigley Group, bringing with them more than 60 years of expertise in the construction industry.
Hicks will spearhead the revamped commercial team after seven years as associate director at RPS Consulting Services and Goodrich Consulting, and previously holding commercial manager roles for Buckingham Group Contracting and Stepnell.
He arrives at an exciting time for The Wigley Group’s commercial division with work shortly due to start on two major logistics schemes in Coventry to deliver 33 units, which is worth a combined £8.5m investment for the region.
“I’m very excited to join as The Wigley Group’s new commercial lead,” he said.
“The Wigley Group is a financially strong and robust family-owned business which has some excellent opportunities for growth in 2023 and beyond.
“I’m thrilled to be playing a part in helping to shape the company’s future.”
Southern joins as senior quantity surveyor from Quantum Construction, having held similar roles for national firms including Thomas Vale Construction, McCarthy and Stone and Stepnell.
He added: “I’m delighted to be joining The Wigley Group, a company which possesses great history and stability combined with a forward-thinking approach to construction and development.
“I look forward to working with the team and sharing my experience and enthusiasm.”
James Davies, chief executive at The Wigley Group, said: “There is much to look forward to across the business in 2023 and the appointment of Charles and Nick comes at an exciting period.
“Charles will play a key role in continuing the growth of our commercial team, applying his demonstrable experience to add a new layer to our skillset.
“Both Charles and Nick are terrific additions and bring with them a wealth of contacts and experience in the construction industry across multiple sectors, and have already hit the ground running.”
