People: Finance for Enterprise; Rahman Ravelli; Clarion; and more

Doncaster-based alternative lending provider Finance For Enterprise has strengthened its team of investment managers after appointing experienced banker and business support manager, Jeremy Meadowcroft.

He will be responsible for helping business owners across the region to access a range of tailored business lending support packages including access to the Government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme, delivered by Finance For Enterprise, as well as nurturing new entrepreneurs through Start Up Loans.

Meadowcroft spent 30 years working in the banking sector, where he rose through the ranks to become a branch manager, developing a particular interest in helping owner-managed businesses to prosper, before making the switch to commercial banking.

In recent years he has also used his skills to help growing businesses secure business angel investments, matching business hopefuls with experienced private investors, hosting and running monthly ‘Dragons Den’ equity pitch day events which brought together business owners and investors from across the North of England.

Meadowcroft said: “Businesses are the backbone of the British Economy, yet all too often their success can be stifled simply because they are unable to secure lending at the times when they need it the most.

“Finance For Enterprise operates in a very different way to traditional high street banks and joining the team is an exciting new chapter in my career.

“One of the most rewarding parts of joining an organisation like Finance For Enterprise is being able to help companies secure the vital funds needed to grow.

“All too often lending decisions are made based on computer algorithms rather than delving beyond the data to really get to know the business and people behind it.”

Andrew Austwick, managing director, said: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Finance For Enterprise has acted swiftly to deliver the vital funds needed by business owners to overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19.

“As demand for our services have risen, we have strengthened our team of knowledgeable investment managers.

“Jeremy’s appointment will help us to continue delivering the vital financial support needed by business owners at a time when they need it the most.”

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Syed Rahman

Yorkshire law firm Rahman Ravelli has appointed three partners as its global workload continues to increase

The international business crime and litigation specialist has made three of its most senior solicitors partners.

Joshua Ray, Syed Rahman and Nicola Sharp have been appointed in a round of promotions prompted by the firm’s expanding international workload; especially in the fields of multijurisdictional investigations and cross-border litigation. All three had been legal directors at the company.

Company founder and senior partner, Aziz Rahman, said: “The firm continues to go from strength to strength and Josh, Syed and Nicola have shown that they have the talent necessary to be partners. They are top class and highly regarded in their practice areas.

Joshua Ray

“This is a logical and deserved next step for them, given their achievements and our further expansion into global markets.’’

 

Aziz Rahman added that the three new partners each bring a variety of qualities to the firm.

Syed Rahman handles large, high-profile international white-collar crime cases.

He also represents corporates and ultra-high net worth individuals in high-stakes commercial disputes and deferred prosecution agreement negotiations.

He has secured legal firsts in developing areas such as Cum-Ex, cryptocurrency and offensive asset recovery actions.

Nicola Sharp

Sharp’s fraud, civil recovery and business crime expertise has led to her being recognised as a litigator of the highest calibre and playing major roles in leading Serious Fraud Office investigations.

She leads many high-profile private prosecutions and fraud-related complex commercial litigation cases.

Ray defends companies and senior corporate figures in complex and multijurisdictional investigations, prosecutions and regulatory actions.

He is currently lead counsel on one of the largest-ever FCPA cases.

He has a deep understanding of market mechanics, experience of many major market manipulation investigations and leads the firm’s US-facing business crime practice group.

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Emma Lowe and Cat Tanham are the latest specialist lawyers to join the dedicated contentious insolvency litigation team within Clarion’s business restructuring and insolvency practice.

Emma Lowe

Joining as a legal director, Lowe is an experienced commercial litigator with a strong track record advising UK and international clients on high-value commercial disputes.

She has worked for well-known regional and national law firms, specialising in dispute resolution matters.

Lowe has advised clients on a range of complex commercial disputes including shareholder disputes, contractual, confidential information and restrictive covenant claims and civil fraud cases.

She has represented clients seeking High Court interim injunctive relief, including freezing orders and advised on search and seizure orders.

Tanham re-joins the Clarion team as an associate with Higher Rights of Audience, having taken six months out to launch her own business.

Cat Tanham

With five years’ experience in commercial dispute resolution, she has managed complex cases at all stages of the litigation process in County Court, High Court and the Court of Appeal as well as advising on disputes involving general contract law, debt, misrepresentation, professional negligence and fraud.

Roger Hutton, Clarion’s joint managing partner and head of its insolvency litigation team, said: “In recent years, we have become known for our expertise on litigation arising from insolvency situations and have built up one of the largest specialist teams outside London.

“In fact, we often handle national cases, with a number of leading QCs regularly referring work to us.

“With demand growing in this niche area of law, we are pleased to be expanding our six-strong dedicated team with Emma and Cat’s arrival.

“With 15 years’ experience in commercial litigation, specialising in contentious work and fraud, Emma will be a welcome addition to the team.

“While Cat, as both a business owner and solicitor, not only brings technical experience, but also a true understanding of the real-world challenges businesses currently face.”

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Sheffield City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is gearing up for the region to recover from the pandemic, as it appoints eight new board members to support South Yorkshire’s economic renewal.

The new board members will act as ambassadors for South Yorkshire, supporting the region’s businesses through the challenges presented by COVID, attracting investment and promoting the area on the national and international stage.

The LEP is formed of senior business leaders, Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis and the leaders of Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley councils, as part of the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA).

The new board members are:

  • Karen Beardsley, MD of Unipart Rail Operations
  • Joe Chetcuti, director of Front Ideas
  • Michael Faulks, co-founder and chief technical officer of Ioetec Ltd
  • Dan Fell, CEO of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce
  • Angela Foulkes, CEO of Sheffield College
  • Paul Leedham, MD of Matrix Energy Systems
  • Gemma Smith, MD of Strata Homes
  • Cathy Travers, MD of Mott MacDonald UK and Europe

Existing board members Alexa Greaves, Neil MacDonald and Richard Stubbs have all been re-appointed.

James Muir, chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am delighted to welcome a great array of new board members to the LEP as we work to strengthen the region for the challenges ahead, unlock opportunities for South Yorkshire and level up the economy.

“With another national lockdown in place, this is an incredibly important time for the LEP to support people and businesses across South Yorkshire to get through Covid, recover and renew.

“We have an ambitious vision for the region as we drive forward work on our Strategic Economic Plan and our Renewal Action Plan to ensure the Sheffield City Region can build back better in the years to come.

“Our LEP Board represents the diversity of the region, and our new members are bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to drive us forward in supporting and investing in the people, employers and places of South Yorkshire.”

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World-leading provider of cloud-based localisation and media services to the global entertainment industry,ZOO Digital has made three strategic hires as part of its talent management programme to enhance ZOO’s dubbing capabilities and bring in new talent across its European and other key markets.

Dave Concors joins the Sheffield-based business as head of sound, an Emmy Award Winner with over 30 years’ experience working in features and episodic content he will further develop the firm’s dubbing services offer to Hollywood.

Mariusz Jaworowski joins as creative director for central and eastern European (CEE) dubbing. Jaworowski is a former executive director at Disney and has worked in dubbing direction services for HBO and Amazon. In his new role he will oversee the quality for all dubbing titles within Poland, Russia, the Balkans, the Baltics, Czech Republic, Hungary and Greece, as well as building the supply chain in the region.

Finally Andreas Kaj joins as dubbing territory manager for the Nordic region. Having worked on dubbing content for companies including Warner Bros and The LEGO Group, he will now be responsible for delivering high quality dubbed projects to ZOO’s global clients in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

Stuart Green, chief executive officer, at ZOO said:”I am delighted to welcome Dave, Mariusz and Andreas to the business. These significant additions to our expanding international team are a clear demonstration of our rapid growth plan for our dubbing services as we seek to attract exceptional talent to ZOO.

“Each brings considerable technical and industry experience and will be a key member of the team as we position the business as a leading provider of end-to-end localisation and media services to the entertainment industry in an expanding global market.”

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Life sciences business Optibiotix Health has announced its intention to appoint the former Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, Stephen Hammond MP as a non executive director.

The appointment is subject to the completion of regulatory due diligence but commenting on today’s announcement Neil Davidson, chairman of Optibiotix said: “Stephen’s appointment reflects the continued evolution and ambition of the Board as the Company moves into the next phase of its development in becoming a profitable international business with global brands.

“Stephen’s international understanding of healthcare, finance and experience of working in senior positions within finance and government complements the current Board’s wealth of experience.

“The Company anticipate that there will be further additions and changes to the Board and management teams as it continues to grow sales, expand into international markets and commercialises its next generation products.”

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