New restructuring partner for Pinsent Masons

PINSENT Masons has strengthened its Banking & Restructuring team in Birmingham with the appointment of restructuring specialist Amy Flavell as partner.

Ms Flavell is a leading restructuring and insolvency specialist and joins the firm from Squire Patton Boggs in Birmingham. Over the past decade, she has worked with a number of global financial institutions with a significant presence in the Midlands. She also has considerable experience in asset-based lending (ABL) and is expected to work closely with Pinsent Masons’ ABL practice head, partner Edward Sunderland, to further develop the firm’s ABL practice.
 
Nick Pike, a partner in the Restructuring team, said: “Amy joins us at an interesting time in the cycle. We continue to see strong appetite for refinancing and settlements for distressed organisations, and Birmingham is an important market given the significant presence of many of the largest financial institutions there.”

David Doogan, Head of Pinsent Masons Birmingham banking practice, said: “Amy is already recognised as one of the rising stars in the Midlands restructuring market and her appointment is great news for us. My expectation is that as a result of Pinsent Masons strong nationwide platform and position on the panels of the major banks, we will be the right place for her to develop both her restructuring and ABL practices.”   

Hat-trick of new appointments at Lanyon Bowdler

ONE of Shropshire’s largest firm of solicitors has appointed three new partners and a marketing director as it positions itself for future growth.

Sue Hodgson, Loretta Aston and Giles Scott have been made partners of Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, which has offices across Shropshire and Hereford, while Amanda Jones has been promoted to marketing director.

Ms Hodgson is a family lawyer based in the Telford office, Loretta Aston deals with residential property matters in Ludlow and Hereford, and Giles Scott is a private client solicitor based in Ludlow.

Lanyon Bowdler has had a busy year of appointments, with Andrew Evans becoming senior partner following the retirement of Peter Flint in May, and Praveen Chaudhari being promoted to head of commercial and agricultural property in September.

Planning specialist David Brammer also joined the firm in September as partner and head of planning, as the demand from developers and individuals regarding planning matters grew.

Lanyon Bowdler’s managing partner, David Battisby, said the new-look management team positioned the firm well for the future.

“I am delighted with the recent additions to the partnership and wish them happy and successful future careers as partners.

“The firm has seen a steady growth in clients throughout 2015 and we are confident that as the economy continues to recover, demand for our professional services will continue to rise,” he said.

Mills & Reeve poaches public procurement specialist

MILLS & REEVE has appointed leading public procurement lawyer, Christopher Brennan, to its national procurement team as partner.
 
Brennan has been leading the public procurement practice at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, and his new employer said he had a reputation for delivering “pragmatic and solution focussed procurement advice”. He brings expertise in advising clients ranging from local authorities to NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups on procurement rules.
 
At Mills & Reeve he will work with buyers and suppliers to deliver efficient and fair supplier selection procedures for the UK public sector and utilities.
 
Steve Allen, head of the Birmingham office of Mills & Reeve, said: “2015 has been a year of major changes for those working in the area of public procurement, and I am delighted that Christopher will be part of our team supporting clients on how to manage these changes.”