People: Law firm launches business immigration offering with senior hire; NorthEdge appoint portfolio directors; General manager takes the reins at racecourse hotel; and more

Leeds-based law firm Black Solicitors has launched a new service with the appointment of immigration legal expert Louis MacWilliam.

MacWilliam joins Blacks as an associate solicitor from London law firm Bindmans and brings over nine years of immigration law experience with him.

He will be offering a range of specialist immigration advice to both businesses and individuals. This will include advising on hiring non-EU workers (including applying for and managing a Sponsor License), securing the rights of EU employees and planning for life after Brexit, as well as Home Office compliance and mock-audits.

MacWilliam will also provide assistance for individuals in relation to applications for skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs, family members, EU nationals and challenges to visa refusals.

He said: “Immigration is an extremely important area of law for many employers, and employees, in Yorkshire and I’m looking forward to helping with any issues they may have.

“With new data showing Leeds as having the highest number of EU nationals living and working here in comparison with other towns and cities across the Yorkshire region, it’s great to be able to offer a completely new service to help and support local businesses, should they need it post Brexit.”

Managing partner at Blacks Solicitors, Chris Allen, said: “This is a really dynamic time for Blacks with unprecedented growth in all our teams. With uncertainty around Brexit it seems the perfect time to expand with a brand new service. I’m looking forward to seeing how our immigration offering takes off and what Louis achieves.”

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NorthEdge has appointed two new portfolio directors following an active start to 2018 in which the firm has completed five transactions at a combined value of £160m.

Keven Parker joins NorthEdge with over 12 years’ experience in leveraged buyout transactions gained at 3i Group plc as head of the firm’s Manchester office and one of six partners across its UK buyout team. He joins from construction firm Shepherd Group, where he was a main board director and group CFO.

Andy Tupholme joins NorthEdge with 20 years’ investment experience, largely developed at Gresham Private Equity, where he invested in a series of northern-focused businesses across a wide range of sectors as partner. He joins NorthEdge having operated as an independent non-executive director on a number of boards.

They will be based in Leeds and Manchester and will support head of portfolio, Ian Plumb, to oversee and manage the firm’s active portfolio.

Exits in 2018 include the sale of high-quality premium door solutions and window systems provider DW3 to US-listed trade buyer Masonite International Corporation (NYSE: DOOR), achieving a 3.5x return and the exit of IT solutions provider Jigsaw24 to private equity firm Alcuin Capital Partners achieving a 3.1x return. .

NorthEdge has also completed three new investments in 2018, stairlift designer and manufacturer, Platinum Stairlifts, cloud transformation and infrastructure specialist, Cloud Technology Solutions (CTS); and commercial fleet specialist, Prohire. Combined, NorthEdge’s five transactions this year have a deal value of £160m, with the companies achieving sales of £260m.

 Grant Berry, managing partner at NorthEdge Capital, said: “Our exits of DW3 and Jigsaw24 are particularly pleasing and we are proud that our support has enabled these businesses to attract significant investment.

“Keven and Andy are both great additions to the team and bring a wealth of experience to NorthEdge. Their appointments are testament to our growing stature as we continue to add to our diverse portfolio with ambitious, strong management teams, and we look forward to working with Keven, Andy, and our existing Portfolio Team to deliver growth to our investee companies.”

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Louise Thrussell has been named as general manager of the forthcoming Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse hotel.

She brings more than two decades of hotel industry experience to the post, including most recently overseeing the Hampton by Hilton Sheffield and adjacent Marco’s New York Italian restaurant.

She said: “As a new build hotel, in a fantastic location, I’m excited to get to work on building up a strong team and ensuring that when we’re ready to welcome our guests this summer, they get the very best experience possible.

“There’s a real buzz in Doncaster at the moment and the new hotel is going to be a great addition to the area.”

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North Yorkshire Law in Whitby has announced the appointment of Jaime Dodd within the conveyancing team.

Dodd has previously worked with Courmacs, a small high street firm in Urmston in Manchester where he was head of department, responsible for all legal work on sales, purchases, transfers of equity and re-mortgage files.

He brings a number years of experience to North Yorkshire Law, which provide all aspects of law including family law, business, property, Wills and civil litigation matters.

Richard Boyd, partner at North Yorkshire Law, said: “Jaime is very focused on bringing his expertise, enthusiasm and organisational skills to the job whilst developing local connections with an open and friendly approach to communications with clients and fellow professionals.”