People: Talbots Law; Spencer Gardner Dickins; Wilkes

Law firm, Talbots Law, has strengthened its ranks with the appointment of Asad Khand as its new head of commercial property.

The move will see Khand take the next step in an impressive career so far, having undertaken key senior roles at the likes of Irwin Mitchell, Gowling and, most recently, George Green.

His appointment sees him succeed Nicola Reeve, who has grown the franchise client base of the business to the extent that Talbots Law now requires a dedicated Franchise division, after many years of providing specialist services to franchisees of global brands like McDonald’s with notable clients including Doug Wright, MBE.

Reeve will be leading that specialist new division with Asad Khand taking over non-franchise related commercial property services.

Khand will be based out of the company’s Stourbridge office but will be continuing to service a nationwide client basis and lean on key strategic partnerships around the country, including the company’s flagship legal partnership with Edgbaston Stadium.

Dave Hodgetts, chief executive officer, Talbots Law said: “To bring in a senior leader of Asad’s experience and prestige speaks volumes about the work our Business Services team have done and the strength of the vision we are working towards. This is an exciting time to be joining Talbots Law and with Asad at the helm of our Commercial Property offer, I have every confidence that we will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”

A Coventry accountancy firm has bolstered its audit team with a senior appointment who has chalked up almost 40 years of experience in the industry.

Steven Mugglestone has joined Spencer Gardner Dickins (SGD) as an associate director to support the firm’s ongoing growth as it marks its 20th anniversary this year.

As a registered auditor, he will service both audit and general business clients and will draw upon his experience both in practice and working in industry in FD roles.

He started out as a trainee accountant in 1986 having graduated in economics from Nottingham Trent University.

Mugglestone went on to spend more than 13 years with Grant Thornton and has since enjoyed a number of roles across the sector, including helping to turn around struggling businesses.

He said: “I am really pleased to be joining SGD at what is an exciting time for the business. It has just turned 20 and is looking to build on the strong reputation it has developed over the past two decades and to grow into the future. It is developing a great team and I am hoping that I can support them with the experience and knowledge I have acquired since coming into the industry nearly 40 years ago.

“I’ve worked with businesses of all sizes and sectors and, aside from the advances in technology, the fundamentals of helping companies are still the same as they were when I first started. I’ve helped quite a few companies back from the brink over the years and that’s when you really build your knowledge of business. When you see how it has gone wrong and what needs to be done to put it right, it gives you a real insight.

“I am looking forward to supporting colleagues and clients – and to helping SGD with its ambitious plans.”

Law firm, Wilkes, has appointed four new trainee solicitors.

The new trainees Joseph Walklate, Mursheda Ahad, Poppy Brown, and Taylor Meadows have commenced their two-year training contracts, with initial seats in personal injury, business recovery (non-contentious and Contentious), and property litigation.

Training principal Mark Hodgson said: “The future of Wilkes and the whole legal profession depends upon investing in young talent, and I am delighted to be here with Mursheda, Joseph, Poppy and Taylor today, as they embark on their legal career. I cannot wait to see how they develop in the coming months, guided and assisted by the talent and wealth of experience we already have in the firm.

“The future does look bright, and the training program we have developed over years will stand them all in good stead. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kate Hackett for all the work she has put into our trainees and the foundations she has laid in our training program over the last 20 years.”