Professionals: Gateley, Maven Capital Partners, Wilson Field

COMMERCIAL law firm, Gateley plc, has boosted its real estate credentials with the appointment of partner Phil Gregory.

Mr Gregory joins from Gordons where he was a partner for eight years, and in the business for 14 years.

He will be developing the real estate team with a focus on commercial property.

Mr Gregory said: “I am excited to be joining a national practice like Gateley Plc. The opportunity to build a Real Estate team here in Leeds was one I just could not say no to.”

“The firm has big plans for its Leeds office and I am enthusiastic about helping Gateley Plc to continue the impressive growth it has enjoyed in the city since opening the office in 2012.”

Gateley has also added to its corporate, residential development, and dispute resolution teams.

Sandip Khroud joins from Irwin Mitchell as senior associate. he specialises in Sandip M&A, private equity and plc client matters relating to both Europe and Asia.

He sits on the Advisory Board of the National Asian Business Association and has worked in Mumbai and Delhi, helping to set up joint ventures between companies from Yorkshire and across the UK.

Keelie Evans joins the firm’s residential development division and Peter Barr has been appointed to the commercial dispute resolution team, both as associates.

William Ballmann, corporate recovery partner and head of the Leeds office, said: “When we established Gateley in Leeds in 2012 we said we had plans to develop the office into a full service commercial law practice. We have grown at a rapid rate in four years and are really proud of everything we have achieved, now offering services that include corporate, corporate recovery, residential development, dispute resolution, regulatory and now real estate.

“Having started with just five people in 2012, we now have well over 40 members of the team in our Leeds office and we are looking forward to building on this growth and our presence in the region.”

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PRIVATE equity managers Maven Capital Partners have appointed Stuart Nicol as an investment director.

He joins Maven’s Southern investment team and will be based out of the London office.

Over the past three years Maven has raised around £50m in new VCT fundraisings, for investment in growth company transactions, and is an active investor throughout the UK regions.

Bill Nixon, managing partner of Maven Capital Partners said: “We are continually looking to develop our VCT investment capability, and are delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart to our investment team. Maven has one of the best resourced VCT teams in the industry and is committed to enhancing its business across the South. Stuart brings the quality and wealth of experience necessary to complement our existing team.

“We are very familiar with his work and strong reputation in this field and welcome him to Maven, where we are confident that he will further enhance our VCT business.”

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TURNAROUND business Wilson Field is to recruiting a raft of new staff as it looks to expand.

The recruits will join the 90-strong team at Wilson Field’s Ecclesall Road headquarters in Sheffield.

Wilson Field is looking for seven applicants from across South Yorkshire for the three case administrator’s roles and four trainee case administrator’s positions.

Nick Wilson, managing director of Wilson Field Group, said: “The continuing expansion of our busy insolvency practice means this latest recruitment drive. Six are brand new jobs and one is an existing position.

“Wilson Field already employs 90 staff and it’s great news that we can build on this and increase our presence in the area.

“It is a great opportunity for people to develop a career with Wilson Field at a particularly exciting time and part of our commitment to provide the best possible service for our clients.

“Wilson Field is committed to helping develop all team members, by supporting staff who choose to study and by providing personal development training. This is reflected in the knowledge and empathy that members of the team have when dealing with individuals or businesses with financial problems.”

Wilson Field Group recently appointed Dominique Upton as senior corporate finance consultant following the launch of new company WF Financial Solutions which offers commercial financial services to clients to meet finance demands of a recovering economy.