People: Private bank appoints Head of Yorkshire; Executive vice president for Europe at BigChange; Legal firm bolsters family law team; and more

Kleinwort Hambros, a UK private bank and wealth management firm, has appointed Richard Brown as Head of Yorkshire office.

In his new role, Brown will be responsible for developing the business and coordinating a wide range of private banking and wealth management services, including fiduciary, investment, wealth planning and credit solutions for high net worth clients in Yorkshire and the surrounding area.

Brown joined Kleinwort Hambros in 2015 and has over 30 years’ experience in financial services and private banking, having formerly been a wealth manager at Coutts and relationship manager for Lloyds Private Banking.

Commenting on his appointment, Andrew Hillery, Head of UK Private Banking, said: “We are very pleased to announce Richard’s well-deserved promotion to head up our Yorkshire office. As we continue to strengthen our business in the region, we are committed to delivering a market leading service to our clients, close to their home or place of work.  With his strong track record and experience in the private banking industry, we are confident that he will help to drive our business forward. It also demonstrates our recognition and support for promoting internal talent.”

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BigChange, the Leeds-based mobile workforce technology company, has appointed transportation and technology industry expert Frederic Dupeyron to spearhead its expansion in mainland Europe.

Having served as a non-executive director at BigChange since it was founded, Dupeyron will join the company on a full-time basis at the beginning of February as Executive Vice President for Europe.

He is tasked with establishing BigChange subsidiaries in mainland Europe and driving its expansion across the region.

Dupeyron, who will report directly to BigChange’s CEO, Martin Port, has held several senior leadership positions for European transportation and technology organisations over the last 20 years.

He was CEO at Masternaut prior to its acquisition by Francisco Partners in 2012 and previously served as CEO of Hub One and ADP Management, subsidiaries of French airport operator Groupe ADP.

Dupeyron began his career working in finance, serving in the Transport Finance Team at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and then as Director of Corporate Finance at Aéroports de Paris.

Martin Port, founder and CEO of BigChange, said: “2019 is going to be a huge year for BigChange as we ramp up our activities around the world. I’ve worked with Frederic for many years and am delighted that he is joining BigChange on a full-time basis to lead our charge into mainland Europe.”

Dupeyron added: “I’ve seen BigChange go from strength-to-strength since it was launched and I am excited the opportunity now exists for me to focus my efforts on boosting its business in mainland Europe.

“BigChange’s multilingual technology is already transforming mobile workforce operations on the continent, and there are huge growth opportunities for the company there.”

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Lupton Fawcett has recruited two family law specialists to cater for the growing number of divorce and family related clients seeking help from the Yorkshire law firm.

Richard Buckley, who will be based in the Sheffield office, is accredited by the Law Society as an expert in Family Law, advising on issues including divorce, financial proceedings and a wide range of children’s matters.

He is also an accredited family mediator and collaborative lawyer, enabling him to assist couples to resolve issues in a cost effective and amicable way, without the need for court proceedings.

Sophie Arrowsmith, who will operate from the Leeds office, has specialised exclusively in practising Family law, advising and handling cohabitation disputes, divorce proceedings, financial disputes and settlements, as well as a broad spectrum of children’s issues.

Arrowsmith will also deal  with the with more complex children’s matters, such as removal from jurisdiction and international child abduction, working in conjunction with the international Child Abduction and Contact Unit in London.

Chris Burns, the head of the Family Law department within Lupton Fawcett, said: “Although there is a spike at this time of year, we have experienced a growing number of divorce cases and family disputes with clients seeking our advice and help across the last 12 months. It is a great reflection on the advice we give, and the way we handle matters, that many new cases come through recommendations from former clients.

“We are therefore pleased to welcome two first class family lawyers to the team, in Richard and Sophie, who will be able to develop our offering, handle the additional cases and provide the same high quality advice which will enhance our reputation even further.”

Jonathan Oxley, managing partner of Lupton Fawcett, added: “Chris Burns, who was described by the Legal 500 as a’ top class advocate’, continues to build an excellent team around him. To attract high-calibre solicitors like Richard and Sophie to the firm is testament to the high esteem in which the department is held within the legal community.”

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Mia Branchette is the latest lawyer to join Clarion’s growing Real Estate team where she takes up the role of associate in the property litigation department.

Branchette trained and qualified with Nabarro LLP before joining Fieldfisher LLP as an associate in 2016.

In her new role, Branchette will specialise in a wide range of property disputes and issues and is able to advise on a wide range of contentious property matters. She has experience of acting for a variety of clients including institutional landlords, tenants, developers, asset managers and property funds.

Her practice covers the full range of property disputes including complex and high-value litigation; rent reviews; independent expert determinations; business lease renewals; service charge disputes; tenant insolvency; strategic break options; tenant default and dilapidations settlements as well advising on vacant possession strategies.

Sophie Morley, head of the property litigation team, said: “Mia has worked with clients at all ends of the spectrum, from large institutional landlords and developers to individuals, specialising in property disputes.

“She comes with a wealth of experience and enables the property litigation team to continue to offer clients a seamless and complete service as part of the wider Real Estate team.”

Martin Grange, head of Clarion’s Real Estate practice, added: “Mia’s experience, enthusiasm and client service are the perfect fit for the property litigation department and she is a welcome addition as we continue to expand and strengthen our specialist real estate services offering.”

Clarion’s 19-strong real estate team provides a full range of property expertise from development, investment, asset management, corporate occupier work through to retail, leisure and secured lending.