People: Interpath Advisory, Roche Legal, Ramsdens Solicitors, RSM

Interpath Advisory has announced the appointment of highly experienced financier Matthew Jubb as it strengthens the leadership of the firm’s transformation and turnaround offering.

 Matthew will join Interpath as a managing director on 3 June. He arrives from Endless LLP, the leading special situations private equity investor, where he was responsible for leading the firm’s Leeds office.

 At Endless, Matthew was part of the team which undertook two successful institutional fund raises totalling £1bn of capital, and has significant experience of financial restructurings, operational restructurings, carve outs and ‘buy and build’ M&A, as well as working alongside portfolio companies on debt raises, crisis response, risk mitigation and stakeholder management. Prior to his time at Endless, Matthew was part of the business recovery services team at PwC.

In his new role, Matthew will work alongside Kenny McKay to accelerate the growth and development of Interpath’s transformation and turnaround capabilities, as well as working closely with the firm’s M&A and value creation teams to deliver best-in-class support to private equity houses and their portfolio companies.

Kenny McKay, head of Interpath Advisory in the North, said: “Having Matthew join Interpath is a real coup. His decade of experience operating at board level in complex situations brings with it a proven track record of protecting and creating value, skilled stakeholder management, and the ability to foster strong relationships in order to drive commercial success.

“Not only will he strengthen our existing transformation and turnaround capabilities, but his experience both as an investor and working with portfolio companies will help drive our relationships across the UK’s private equity community.”

Commenting on his appointment, Matthew Jubb said: “I’ve admired Interpath from afar since the start of their journey, watching them grow over the past three years to become one of, if not the leading Restructuring advisory firm in the UK. I’ve also been struck by the pace at which they have accelerated their expansion into broader advisory service lines, including their fast-growing deals offerings. The scale of ambition here is remarkable and I can’t wait to play my part in driving the business forward.”

 He added: “I’ve spent the majority of my career helping boards and stakeholders to, put simply, do difficult and complex things. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to deliver real value to investors and companies who are looking to seize opportunities and overcome periods of challenge.”

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Gary Lumby MBE, the former UK Director of Small Business Banking at Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at Roche Legal, the award winning Yorkshire private client law firm.

Lumby, a former president of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, is a business mentor and growth expert, who believes he can help York based owner Rachel Roche build on the impact she has already made, particularly with her cross border probate work, most notably in the USA.

Lumby , who will continue to work as a portfolio non-executive director with his many other clients across the UK, said: “I am genuinely excited about working with Rachel and her team and accelerating the growth they have already seen to become the very best private client law firm in the UK.

“Rachel has worked incredibly hard to build her brand and it has paid dividends and it is very impressive that she was asked to co-author a book on how to start a law firm by the Law Society.

“I am only interested in businesses with a growth mind set who are willing to take risks and invest. The internationalisation of the business for a Yorkshire law firm is quite unusual in private client law. Rachel has gone out of her way to have links in the USA and that does open opportunities for Roche Legal with international work.

“It means Roche Legal can work with other UK law firms who do not possess the same expertise. With Rachel specialising in private client law, this gives Roche Legal a point of difference.

Law firms are often technically agnostic, having to be pulled kicking and screaming into using new systems but Rachel and her team have embraced real change and clearly understand the importance of utilising technology to maximise opportunities.”

For 12 years Lumby was a growth expert on the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Programme where last year he mentored Rachel at the Oxford Saïd Business School. “You don’t get onto the Goldman Sachs scheme without having something about you and then it is about executing your business plan,” he added.

“The difference with Rachel is that internationalisation, her appetite for technology and the personal brand she has developed. I saw that Roche Legal had really good potential.

“There is an opportunity for expansion with this international expertise to enable Roche Legal to become the No1 choice outside London.”

Rachel Roche, who is co-chair of the London chapter of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), is delighted to be able to tap into Lumby’s vast business experience. She said: “Gary is an acknowledged growth expert and brings a wealth of business experience to his key role with Roche Legal and we are all thrilled to be working with him.”

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Ramsdens Solicitors continues to strengthen its Court of Protection practice with the appointment of Hanna Whitehead as an associate.

Ms Whitehead, who has expertise in advising on health and welfare cases in the Court of Protection, has spent the last seven years working for Kirklees Council. She has advised on a wide variety of cases including challenges to Deprivations of Liberty (DOLS), Section 16 (of the Mental Capacity Act 2005) applications and best interest decisions.

Originally passing the Bar and qualifying as a barrister, Ms Whitehead now specialises in Section 21 objections, Section 16 applications, medical consent and capacity issues.

With post-graduate degrees in Mental Health Law and Biotechnology Law, she is currently working on a PhD in relation to capacity to engage in sexual relations.

Natalie Lang, partner and head of Ramsdens’ Court of Protection team, said: “With many years of experience advising families concerned about a loved one’s ability to manage their financial affairs due to lack of capacity, we are proud to have established one of the largest regional practices in this niche area of the law. As a specialist in health and welfare cases, Hanna adds further strength in depth to our team of Court of Protection experts.”

Hanna Whitehead said: “This is a great opportunity to use my skills as part of an expanding team with a strong reputation for supporting clients in these difficult situations by providing practical, easy-to-understand advice with sensitivity and care.”

Ramsdens has a 14-strong team of specialists dedicated to all aspects of Court of Protection work.

With a heritage of providing a wide range of legal services to businesses and individuals for more than 150 years, Ramsdens Solicitors has 12 offices throughout Yorkshire. The multi-award winning law firm employs a team of 280 people, including more than 30 partners.

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Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK has announced the promotion of private client tax specialist Kate Aitchison to partner. The promotion highlights the firm’s continued investment in its people, to drive growth from within its own ranks.

Originally in RSM’s Leeds office, Kate’s promotion will see her strengthen the private client tax team in the North West. As part of her new role, Kate is now based in the firm’s Manchester office, while continuing to deliver for clients across Yorkshire and the North East.

Kate joined RSM in 2020 as private client tax director, having initially trained at one of the Big Four. She has over 19 years of private client experience and specialises in personal tax issues including inheritance tax, capital gains tax planning, and succession planning.

As partner, Kate will continue to work alongside high net worth individuals, entrepreneurial clients, business owners, family-owned businesses and trustees. She will also support the ongoing development and growth of the private client team in the North West.

Kate Aitchison, partner at RSM UK, said: “I am very proud to have been promoted to partner at RSM, and I look forward to continuing to work with our talented tax teams in the North to deliver for our clients. Whilst this is a massive personal achievement, I am grateful to all those who have supported me in my career so far. I am excited to start this next chapter at RSM and contribute to shaping the future of the firm.”

James Morris, RSM UK’s head of tax in the North, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Kate to the partnership. Since joining the firm, she has made a huge impact in our private client services in the North and her promotion to partner reflects her hard work, talent and expertise, and RSM’s commitment to investing in its people. Kate will play a key role in driving our local, regional and national growth plans to deliver a premium service to our tax clients, and I look forward to continuing to work together.”