People: Alantra, St Philips Chambers, Ardent

Alantra has strengthened its investment banking team, with the appointment of Graham Nicoll as Head of Midlands.

Nicoll will take day-to-day responsibility for Alantra’s Midlands business, working closely with Richard Sanders, who will retain his market-facing role across the region along with key client and intermediary relationships developed over the last 25 years.

The appointment is part of the financial services firm’s continued focus on advising and supporting businesses across the Midlands business ecosystem.

Nicoll’s has more than 20 years’ experience in advisory, consulting and business transformation. He joins Alantra from Barclays where he held strategic client and leadership roles in wealth management, corporate banking and stockbroking.

He previously held a senior advisory role at KPMG and has worked with various mid-market firms on deals and strategy in the Business Services, Financial Services and Technology sectors.

The appointment follows the recent recruitment of Michael Penny from KPMG as a vice president and Kameran Dhillon from HSBC as an analyst.

Sara Lewis KC

St Philips Chambers has confirmed the appointment of Sara Lewis KC as its new Head of Chambers.

Lewis, who succeeds Richard Atkins KC, is a highly experienced and respected KC specialising in family law; she was called to the Bar in 1996 and took Silk in 2021.

On confirmation of her appointment, Sara Lewis KC said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Head of Chambers and look forward to leading such a talented group of barristers and staff.

“I take over the stewardship of a thriving chambers and my thanks go to outgoing Head, Richard Atkins KC, who expertly steered St Philips Chambers through the challenges of the Covid years.”

St Philips Chambers is a signatory to the Women in Law Pledge. Lewis’ appointment as Head follows the appointment last year of Yolanda Pemberton as Chair of their Management Committee and Board of Directors. Its elevations demonstrate the set’s unwavering commitment to maximise the potential of its female members.

A leading surveying and consents management practice, with offices across the UK and Ireland, has drafted in a new director.

Dan Harper

Dan Harper has joined Ardent as director of land assembly in its utilities team.

Harper has moved from National Grid where he spent 12 years in various roles and was most recently the complex land rights manager, which saw him managing National Grid’s rights for 4,500 miles of overhead lines and 900 miles of underground cable across third-party land in England and Wales.

He will be working for a range of Ardent clients across different sectors including transport, infrastructure, utilities and renewable energy acquiring land and land rights, helping to deliver key projects.

Harper said: “I am excited to make the move to Ardent – I really enjoyed my time with National Grid and being part of a large organisation but this is a new opportunity and a chance to broaden my horizons in other areas of land assembly.

“I was really sold on the plans Ardent have to grow and the values that the company offers clients and staff.

“The work our team undertakes often goes unnoticed but has a positive impact on society as it’s helping to get vital utilities connected to homes and businesses and will play a major
role in helping to achieve net-zero targets.”