Mark Turner will join the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, and John Lomax, as Commercial Property Partner

Corporate, commercial and private law firm, MLP Law, is preparing for a prosperous new year with the appointment of two new senior lawyers.

The boutique law firm has appointed John Lomax as Commercial Property Partner and Mark Turner as Legal Director in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team. The new additions bolster MLP’s full-service capability and expand its areas of specialism into private client work, complementing its already strong corporate and commercial B2B offering.
John Lomax has more than 30 years’ experience in commercial property law, and specialises in a variety of commercial property and land matters, including acting on commercial sales and purchases, landlord and tenant matters, all aspects of commercial leases, acquisitions and disposals for landlord and tenants, extensions, surrenders of leases, reversionary leases, and overriding leases.

Mark Turner has 25 years’ experience specialising in litigation and disputes after training in the Birmingham office of international firm, DLA Piper. He has been based in the North West since 2004 and practised at commercial firms in Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire. His role will involve advising and assisting clients in a variety of disputes ranging from debt collection claims to complex high value construction and probate claims.

MLP Law owner and director, Stephen Attree, said: “We’re pleased to be in a position to add to our senior team as we enter the new year, with two new hires that will add almost 60 years’ worth of legal expertise to the team. This will enable us to provide our clients with even more value and access to senior legal support – something which many other firms do not provide.

“John is a fantastic lawyer with a real variety of experience which will be invaluable to the team, including finance work for borrowers and lenders in retail and care industries. Mark is an extremely experienced and talented solicitor and taking him on as a Legal Director will make an excellent addition to our expanding Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, boosting our full-service capability, and growing our areas of specialism into private client work, as well as our existing corporate and commercial B2B offering.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mark Turner said: “MLP already offers high quality practical and commercial advice to its clients and I am excited to be joining the firm as it continues to grow the commercial litigation offering. As part of my role within the practice, I hope to continue to establish MLP as a leading dispute resolution advisor in the area.”

Mark’s appointment will continue to bolster the firm’s reputation which has been built on committed advice for growing and entrepreneurial businesses in the region.

Commenting on his appointment, John Lomax said: “It’s an exciting time to be starting in this role, as the commercial property market experiences a big change. The pandemic provides an opportunity for many to diversify and pivot their property portfolio. While many businesses question their high street and commercial office footprint, a significant number are growing their logistics channels requiring large properties and spaces out of town to support the move to online.”

MLP’s Altrincham HQ is supported by further offices in Liverpool, Lymm and Media City. It is a full-service firm that provides a range of legal services to commercial and private clients in the North West.

The firm has also taken the downtime of lockdown restrictions to refurbish its Lymm office in preparation to welcome staff and clients back for face-to-face meetings, when restrictions allow.

Make Events’ further growth and investment sees the company hire their first Managing Director, former TRO Board Director, Nick Burrows. This is a fundamental decision to ensure the continued growth and success of the company.

Make Events has seen their virtual event offering increase in demand and the company respond to their client needs with the creation of new revenue streams requiring new hires and recognising growing talent within their existing team.

Holly Moore, Founder and CEO comments: “At the start of 2020 it was my goal to make enough profit to be able to employ a Managing Director for Make Events. When sat at home contemplating how I would get us through COVID-19 there had to be something at the end to motivate me and that was to carry on and find an MD. A brave move and financial investment at this time.

“We decided to search beyond the events industry, and this is becoming clear that was exactly what we needed. We have started to shape the business to create the ultimate experience live, virtually and tangibly and develop into a marketing and experience agency.

“The team and I are very excited for this injection into the business.”

In his new role Nick will be responsible for the operational running of the agency and ensuring the team achieve their individual goals. He is passionate about helping companies and individuals succeed by creating clear objectives and measuring success.

Nick said: “I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to continue driving growth within Make Events in a Post COVID-19 world. The agency has great clients, great people and a great set of products and services backed up by a positive culture. The future is what we make it, and Make Events are positioned to support organisations recover in 2021 and beyond”.

Over the last six months, Make Events has added virtual events, a content studio offering graphic design, branded printing, video creation and photography, expanded their prop shop, created a bespoke gift box solution and re-branded its sister company, HM Events, offering private parties.

Residential conveyancing specialist Helen Taylor has been appointed as a Senior Conveyancer by Chorlton law firm HLF Berry Solicitors, looking after a range of property matters for clients in the area.

In her new role Helen will be dealing with all aspects of residential conveyancing and property, working out of the firm’s Chorlton office alongside Paul Hannam, HLF Berry Solicitors Partner.
“We’re delighted that Helen has joined our team and we welcome the expertise she brings with her,” says Paul Hannam.

“As a firm, HLF Berry Solicitors, together with our predecessor firm Robin Burman and Co, has been providing legal services across the Manchester area for 100 years and more – and we have a reputation locally for being proactive, knowledgeable, approachable and dependable on all matters of law.”

The company provides services that span family law, commercial law, Wills, probate, Court of Protection, charities, education law, ecclesiastical law and conveyancing law.

Paul Hannam adds: “Chorlton has a thriving property market and despite the current lockdown, this continues to be the case. More than ever, clients rely on our experience to handle a range of complex and straightforward property transactions efficiently and know we will work hard to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.

“Helen has comprehensive experience of sales, purchases and re-mortgages of both freehold and leasehold residential properties. Furthermore, she has dealt with part exchanges, new builds, garden land sales, matrimonial transfers, equity transfers, probate sales, boundary guidance, and more – and is already proving to be an invaluable member of our team as a property specialist.”
With previous experience in a wide range of residential conveyancing property matters, Helen has worked for other law firms across the country as well as in banking before joining HLF Berry Solicitors.

Helen Taylor comments: “I am really enjoying my work for HLF Berry Solicitors so far and am excited about working with the team at the Chorlton office on an ongoing basis.
“Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on us all and it’ll be even better when we’re able to get back to working face-to-face with clients.

“Despite working remotely, I’ve already been able to assist clients in the local area with their property transactions to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.”

“Joining a new law firm at this time is undoubtedly challenging but Helen has been brilliant, handling it all professionally, approachably and efficiently,” adds Paul Hannam.

“Her knowledge of residential conveyancing and property matters is extensive and she has already helped a number of our clients with their property or land sale and purchase matters.

“Furthermore, her understanding of the legal process shows through in all her advice, and we are really looking forward to working alongside Helen.”

LEADING business advisory firm Grant Thornton UK LLP has promoted Paul Wilson to partner in its North West practice.

Paul has worked as a VAT Director in the firm’s tax team for the last four years. He has been based in the region for 13 years of his two-decade career – which has been focussed entirely in VAT – and before that worked in London and New Zealand.

He has experience advising a broad mix of clients including FTSE 100 companies, multinational businesses, and owner-managed businesses. Paul has particular expertise in manufacturing, technology, real estate and private healthcare, and is a recognised expert in international supply chain advisory. This has led to him leading several of the firm’s Brexit readiness projects for its client base.

Grant Thornton continues to invest in developing and retaining its people, and has also announced two further promotions within the North West team.

Louise Gannon and Paul Bamber have both been promoted to Director. Louise now leads the not-for-profit corporate tax team and has over 13 years’ experience advising both charitable and corporate organisations.

Paul joins the leadership group within audit that has overseen significant growth through 2020 and is targeting further expansion in 2021. He has 20 years’ experience advising businesses across a broad range of sectors including privately owned, PE-backed, AIM-listed, and internationally groups.

The North West practice has its headquarters in Manchester and recently reaffirmed its commitment to the city by announcing a new 15-year lease which will see its 350-strong Manchester team based at the Landmark office development at St Peter’s Square.

Commenting on his promotion to partner, Paul Wilson said: “I am hugely excited to be taking the next step in my career with Grant Thornton. The strength of the tax team in the region was a major draw when I joined the firm in 2017, so I’m incredibly pleased to step up to partner within it.

“The region’s businesses have faced a year like no other during 2020. But the result of the Brexit negotiations, and the start of life in earnest outside of the EU, presents fresh challenges for many internationally trading businesses. Timely, reliable, clear advice is the ask from all business leaders and Grant Thornton is committed to providing that.”

Carl Williams, North West managing partner for Grant Thornton UK LLP, said: “Paul’s promotion to partner comes at a time of significant potential disruption to international supply chains, when our region’s globally trading businesses need assured counsel. I’m pleased to see him make the step up to partner and to continue to offer real insight and guidance to our client base.

“As a firm, we’re committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best and brightest talent. All of our promoted colleagues have supported both clients and each other with resilience, dynamism and compassion amid unprecedented circumstances last year and I’m delighted to recognise that.”