People: Irwin Mitchell announces 34 promotions; Property developer appoints regional manager; and more

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has promoted 34 people to Associate and Senior Associate roles across its legal and group services team in its Leeds and Sheffield offices.

Irwin Mitchell’s Group Chief Executive, Andrew Tucker said: “We are always proud to announce our promotions for the associate and senior associate roles. They are recognition of the value our employees bring to the business as well as the opportunities they may bring in the future as valued leaders.

“Developing our people is a key priority for us as it’s crucial to delivering success for our clients. We have invested heavily in providing a clear pathway for our people to progress, whether they are lawyers or working in group services teams, and we look forward to ensuring that our new associates and senior associates are supported on the next step of their career journey.”

The Senior Associate promotions are Guy Whitehead (Real Estate), Dave Grimshaw (Sales & Marketing), Stephen Cardinal (Public Law), Zoe Brodrick, Margaret Ryan (Medical Negligence), Anthony Davis (Serious Damages Unit), Darren Wilson (Serious Injury), Chris Kardahji, Elizabeth Whitehead, Hema Rana (Serious Injury), Carla Rist (Wills, Trusts & Estate Disputes) and David Lister (Family).

The new Associates are Katherine Munn, Lauren Burrows (Commercial), Yvonne Simpson, Amy Au (Litigation), Ben Gildea (Real Estate), Louise Colledge (Employment), John Rowland (Finance), Laura Stephenson, Rob Siddall (Human Resources), Danny Pollard (Risk & Compliance), Lisa Higgins, Waseem Mohammed (Sales & Marketing), David Banks (IM Asset Management), Emma Reid, Natalie Smith (Court of Protection), Charlotte Civico, Rosie Charlton, Rebecca Pearey (Medical Negligence), Charlotte Faulkner (Serious Damages Unit), Susan Seddon (Serious Injury), Faith Salih (Public Law) and Mark Clegg (Residential Property).

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Henry Boot Developments has promoted Anthony Clitheroe to Regional Manager of it’s Yorkshire and North East region.

Senior Development Surveyor, Clitheroe joined the firm in September 2014 from DTZ where he was part of the Development Consulting Team.

Clitheroe is involved in the delivery of several of HBD’s largest schemes, including Markham Vale and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in the North East.

He will continue to progress these schemes, identifying and securing occupiers across a range of flexible transaction structures.

He will also source and acquire new development opportunities, handling negotiation of partnership structures and land acquisitions from a mix of public sector bodies and private sector landowners across Yorkshire and the North East.

Vivienne Clements, Director at Henry Boot Developments, said: “Anthony has played a crucial role in the progression of some of our largest schemes and I’ve no doubt he’ll excel in his new position, continuing to support project delivery and targeting a diverse mix of new development opportunities.”

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Private equity firm Nimbus has strengthened its senior team in the UK with the appointment of David Keenan as Investment Director.

Keenan joins the Leeds office of Nimbus from PwC corporate finance division where he advised as a Director on a number of mid-market private equity transactions across a range of sectors throughout the North and Midlands, during his four-year tenure.

Prior to this, he began his career in RBS’s Northern Team specialising in various corporate banking roles.

Nimbus has appointed Keenan in a senior investment role to use his experience to support growth across the North and Midlands. He will focus on sourcing and executing transactions together with assisting portfolio companies.

Chris Clegg, UK Chairman of Nimbus, said: “The appointment of David is a coup for Nimbus as he’s an extremely respected and sort after corporate financier. His appointment and the launch of our new office in Leeds is just the start of our investment in the UK.”

Nimbus opened its new office at the One Park Row complex in Leeds earlier this month.

Keenan said: “I am joining a talented team with lots of business transformation experience, genuine European capability and strong values. With a new fund in place, Nimbus is an exciting place to be and I am looking forward to working hand in hand with great management teams, businesses and advisers in our local business communities.”

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Sandra Wallace, DLA Piper’s Joint Managing Director for the UK and Europe, and Restructuring partner Richard Obank have been included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list.

Published by legal magazine The Lawyer, the list comprises “the standout lawyers in the UK – the most daring, innovative and creative lawyers from in-house, private practice and the Bar.”

Appointed to the role of Joint Managing Director of Europe in January 2017, Wallace has also served as UK Managing Partner from 2015 to 2018. She has also previously headed the UK Employment group, having qualified with DLA Piper in 1994 and subsequently joining the partnership in 2001.

Wallace is praised for “having a stellar reputation for representing national and international clients on the full remit of employment law services”. The Lawyer also highlights that she “is a prominent voice inside and outside the firm” and her latest appointment as a social mobility commissioner, “an external role in a non-governmental body that will recommend policy changes.”

Richard Obank has more than 30 years’ national experience in the field of corporate restructuring and turnaround with particular expertise advising boards of directors of financially distressed companies seeking to implement a solvent outcome in the best interest of stakeholders.

Over the past 18 months, Obank has been involved in a number of mid-market corporate assignments, including: advising food wholesaler and retailer, Nisa Retail Limited, in relation to its operational challenges, refinancing and sale to the Co-op; facilitating the operational turnaround of Willerby Group; acting for the Poundworld management team and, once appointed, its administrators; and acting on the pre-pack administration sale of American Golf.

Obank is noted for his work advising Nisa Retail: “He guided the grocery store to a crucial rescue by the Co-operative Group in May, which took on Nisa for around £143m. In a dramatic twist, the takeover was then challenged by activists at the sanction hearing; an effort that was nevertheless thwarted by DLA’s team,” The Lawyer said.

Published every year, the Hot 100 is compiled by The Lawyer Magazine’s editorial team following research into candidates’ client work and contribution to their firms, companies and the profession.