Professionals: Grant Thornton’s special projects team celebrates growth; Lawyers work on JD Sports deal; and more
ADVISORY firm Grant Thornton is celebrating the double-digit growth of its special projects service, as it looks to further expansion in 2017.
The service provides bespoke, on-demand and interim accountancy, advisory and project management support for in-house finance teams operating across a range of industries.
Based in Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham, the team which works with businesses of all sizes, has gone from strength-to-strength, doubling both the size of its now 11-strong team and its fee income over the past three years. It is currently recruiting for an executive to join the Yorkshire team and play a role in delivering further growth over the coming year, as the firm continues to support vibrant and ambitious companies.
Emma Davies, director of special projects at Grant Thornton Yorkshire, says: “With this service, Grant Thornton has a unique offering in the market, supporting businesses with an extra, expert pair of hands. We understand that it can be difficult to recruit at short notice, especially when there is an immediate requirement for a certain skill-set, or when employing someone in a full-time role is not a viable option for a short-term project. Our team of experienced accountants can fill the gap, working and collaborating as part of an in-house team for however long our services are needed.
“Understanding the specific needs of our clients and the wider business landscape has enabled us to double head count and fee-income for this service offering and we are on track to deliver a further 25% growth in the next financial year. Expanding the team will allow us to help even more companies with their financial requirements.”
:::
LAWYERS at DLA Piper in Leeds have advised JD Sports Fashion on the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of outdoor retailer Go Outdoors.
Cash consideration of £112.3m has been paid with JD Sports Fashion also assuming net debt of approximately £16m as part of the transaction.
Based in Sheffield, Go Outdoors was originally established in 1998 and is a nationwide outdoor products omnichannel retailer with 58 stores across the UK at acquisition, the majority of which are situated in out of town retail parks.
This acquisition will complement the company’s existing significant interest in the outdoor market through its Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors and Tiso businesses which, in the 52 weeks to January 30 2016 had combined revenues in excess of £155m with 182 stores trading at the year end.
John Gallon, corporate partner at DLA Piper in Leeds, said: “Go Outdoors is a great addition to JD’s existing Outdoor business with its out of town, one stop retailer approach complementing the work that JD has done on the high street with Blacks and Millets.”
The DLA Piper team was led by Mr Gallon alongside corporate associates Partho Chaudhuri and Chloe Roberts.
:::
MAZARS has been awarded the Top 50 Tax Team of the Year award at the 2016 British Accountancy Awards.
Tim Davies, partner and UK head of tax at Mazars, commented: “On behalf of the team, we are delighted to have won this award. To be recognised for our thought leadership, commitment to clients, innovation and growth is true testament to our culture and commitment, as well as our expertise.”
Senior partner of Mazars UK, Phil Verity, added: “Tax has always been an area that Mazars is known for. Tim and the rest of our UK tax team continuously work hard to deliver our services in a positively different way. A way that supports our clients and adds value, considers the specific needs of their businesses and the sectors in which they operate, and is reflective of immediate and long-term changing market conditions.”
:::
A FAMILY lawyer from Leeds and Harrogate law firm Berwins played a key role in a nationwide campaign which hopes to influence significant changes to the law.
Danielle Day took part in a lobby day at the House of Commons organised by the family law body Resolution, which is asking for the introduction of no fault divorce and more rights for cohabiting couples.
She campaigned with Resolution members from across the country and was joined by North Leeds MP Greg Mullholland, who is supporting the drive.
Ms Day said her work with families in North and West Yorkshire had influenced her decision to take part in the campaign and push for legislative changes.
“The current law forces divorcing couples to specify who is to blame for the breakdown of their marriage and in my experience this creates unnecessary friction,” she says.
“At a time when more and more of our clients are keen to divorce amicably, particularly when children are involved, the existing legal process makes life harder for them rather than easier.”
The lobby day was also seeking reforms to the laws governing unmarried couples.
“Couples who live together don’t have the same protection as married couples when they separate and this is something we hope to change,” said Ms Day.
“The entire family law team at Berwins is committed to promoting non-confrontational separation and divorce and, as members of Resolution, we are passionate about supporting the changes that are being sought and speaking out at Westminster on behalf of our clients here in Yorkshire.”
