Professionals: Nabarro; PwC; fds Corporate Finance
NABARRO has made two appointments to its Sheffield office to focus on pensions.
John Hanratty, formerly head of pensions in the Northeast for DWF, joins as a consultant and head of pensions North, together with senior associate Jayne Firth also from DWF.
Mr Hanratty has a particular reputation for his public sector pensions work, but he and Ms Firth will also be supporting the London pensions team with major private sector clients as well as developing work of their own in this area.
Jennifer Bell, head of Pensions at Nabarro, said: “John brings with him an unrivalled reputation for advising public sector clients on major pension issues. Pensions remain a complex and difficult area for public and private sectors alike. We now have a rounded, flexible offering run from our London and Sheffield offices which I am confident clients will find attractive.”
Graham Stedman, senior partner at Nabarro, added: “John and Jayne will play an important role in delivering our plans for the growth of our pensions work. The pensions practice often provides a route into companies for the legal offerings of other practice areas. This investment makes sense in a legal market where deepening relationships with clients is essential.”
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PwC has hired two new directors to work across its three Yorkshire offices as the firm continues to invest and grow in the region.
James Hamilton joins PwC’s forensics practice from BDO in Yorkshire. He has 16 years’ experience conducting investigations into fraud and accounting irregularities, as well as appearing as an expert witness in court appeals and tribunals. In his new role, Mr Hamilton will work with the firm’s 25-strong forensic team across Leeds, Hull and Sheffield, supporting clients in alternative dispute resolution.
The firm has also hired pensions and employee benefits specialist John Dunn as a director, who will focus on growing the pension practice in Yorkshire and the North East. Mr Dunn returns to PwC, having spent the last 14 years at Towers Watson where he was a senior consultant.
In addition to Mr Dunn, two senior managers have been hired to the 45-strong pensions team in Yorkshire.
PwC recently hired Stephen Moore as partner to lead its corporate finance team in Yorkshire. The firm also appointed five new partners to the region in 2014.
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WAKEFIELD-based fds Corporate Finance – part of fds Director Services – has advised on the sale of a London print company to an integrated design company in Soho for an undisclosed sum.
The deal was headed by fds Corporate Finance MD Poonam Kaur and supported by CEO Jo Haigh, who worked alongside Roger Dyson and James Burdekin of hlw Keeble Hawson to drive through the sale.
Founded in 1997, Clear Sound & Vision provides print management and bespoke packaging and manufacturing solutions, along with CD, DVD and vinyl global sourcing to sectors spanning the music industry, business to business and financial services.
Its acquirer, Once Upon a Time, provides bespoke packaging and premium products to the music industry and boasts a high profile client portfolio including Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Lindt, Russian Standard Vodka, Hasbro and Disney.
COO of Once Upon a Time, Diane Charlton, said “fds were excellent in working to our required tight deadlines and instrumental in moving the transaction along at the right times with all parties.”
London solicitors Osborne Clarke acted for the purchaser.
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