Wealth management group Fairstone has appointed Steven Cooper as its new chief executive officer. Mr Cooper will take up the position later this autumn, bringing more than 30 years of financial services sector experience with him as he leads the business which aims to double in size by the end of 2030 through acquisitions and organic growth. He succeeds Fairstone founder Lee Hartley, who becomes deputy chair.
Most recently, as group CEO at Aldermore Bank, he led the business through a period of substantial growth, almost doubling its size after joining in May 2021, and helped the organisation earn recognition as one of the Sunday Times Top 10 Places to Work. Has also been group CEO at privately owned bank C. Hoare & Co and held senior positions at Barclays.
Mr Cooper, who is the current 海角视频 chair of consumer credit reporting agency Experian, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Fairstone. As well as being one of the fastest growing wealth advisory firms in the 海角视频 and Ireland, it is also one of the most trusted by its clients. What drew me here was the clarity of purpose, doing the right thing for clients, building long-term relationships, and supporting people to make confident financial decisions.
READ MORE: {}
"That approach aligns closely with my own values. I’ve always believed that integrity, stewardship, and high professional standards are essential to building trust and delivering strong outcomes. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the business to support our clients and help shape the next phase of Fairstone’s journey."
Corporate and commercial law firm Mincoffs Solicitors has appointed Chris Bowen as associate solicitor. Mr Bowen brings more than a decade of experience to the role having operated in commercial law, including commercial contracts, software technology and data protection. He qualified at a leading northern firm before going on to work at the 海角视频 offices of two international law firms and spent time in the legal services team at a Big Four accounting firm.
Mr Bowen said: "Mincoffs has a strong reputation and an impressive client base so I was delighted when the opportunity arose to join the team. Beyond the variety and calibre of the legal work the team advise on, I was also drawn to the culture at the firm and the opportunities for professional development. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and I look forward to working closely with the rest of the team on a variety of commercial services matters."
Antony Hall, partner and head of commercial services, said: “Chris is an excellent commercial solicitor and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team. With a wide range of experience gained both in private practice and in-house, he brings valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses of all sizes. This appointment strengthens our commercial offering at the firm and I have no doubt Chris will be an asset to our clients and to the wider team."
Newcastle-based chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW has appointed two tax professionals as partners. Alastair Wilson and Andrew Fitton have joined UNW, bringing with them more than 50 years’ combined experience advising businesses across the region. Mr Wilson, who joins as corporate tax partner, trained at a Big Four firm and has since held senior roles at both national and independent practices.
Most Read
Mr Fitton, who also joins UNW as corporate tax partner following his role as national lead for large corporate tax at a 海角视频-wide accountancy firm. He previously spent 25 years with the Big Four, including 21 years at PwC. During this time, he specialised in corporate tax for large and international businesses, with a particular focus on the taxation of debt, derivatives, and foreign exchange.
Both men join UNW's specialist tax team which includes private client, employment taxes, and VAT experts alongside a corporate tax team.
Mr Wilson said: "I’ve known UNW for a long time and have always been impressed by the way the firm operates. There’s a real sense of focus and clarity – it’s independent, agile, and committed to doing great work for clients. That really appealed to me. It’s also a place where people are given the freedom to do their best work and to support others to do the same.
"The chance to join a team of this quality, with the scope to make a real impact, was a big draw. I’m looking forward to being part of a team that shares those values and to helping take the tax offering even further."
Law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed public funding lawyer Alexander Rose as partner. Mr Rose joins from international law firm DWF and specialises in subsidy control and grant funding programmes, advising public authorities and private organisations on the use of public money. He has advised on the compliance of more than £3.5bn in public funding including major regeneration initiatives, inward investment projects and the 海角视频’s first Subsidy Control court case.
In a career of more than 20 years, Mr Rose has provided evidence as an expert witness to the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Subsidy Control Bill and previously spent more than seven years at the Government Legal Department, writing national guidance and advising ministers on funding programmes including devolution deals and the 海角视频 Shared Prosperity Fund.
Mr Rose said: “Ward Hadaway has a superb reputation for the quality of advice, as well as the personable, proactive and pragmatic approach of its lawyers. I’m really looking forward to getting down to work and helping enable important public funded projects to happen.”
Don’t miss
The appointment - intended to build on the firm's public sector work - comes at a time of growth following a series of lateral hires, the merger with The Endeavour Partnership in Teesside and the opening of a Birmingham office. Damien Charlton, head of commercial at Ward Hadaway, said: “Alexander’s expertise in subsidy control and public funding law makes him a highly valuable addition to our team. This is a critical and fast-developing area and his skills will enable us to provide even greater support to clients delivering complex, high-value projects.”
Steven Petrie, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, added: "The expansion of our public sector work will play an important part of our growth plans at Ward Hadaway and Alexander’s appointment is a statement of intent. We are looking to become the first-choice law firm for public bodies such as combined authorities and councils, but also for blue chip companies looking to secure grants, loans and guarantees from the public sector.
"Alexander is a lawyer of real calibre, recognised nationally for his expertise and profile in public funding law and his arrival reflects our strategic ambition to grow across key practice areas and strengthen our national reputation."
Northern law firm Square One Law has appointed two newly qualified solicitors. Declan Fahey and Dominka Cudak both joined the firm in 2023 as trainee solicitors. And Kyle Taylor, who completed a paralegal apprenticeship, is now embarked on his journey to becoming a solicitor.
Mr Fahey, who studied MLaw at Northumbria University and has been involved in a wide range of corporate transactions during his training contract, has qualified into the firm’s Corporate team. Meanwhile Ms Cudak qualifies into the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, having also studied MLaw at Northumbria University and supported on commercial disputes throughout her time as a trainee and will continue to advise clients on complex litigations.
Mr Taylor's qualification - progressing from Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship to Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship - is a first for the firm. He completed assessments this year and is on track to become a fully qualified solicitor in four years.
He said: “My aim has always been to become a solicitor, and I am delighted to have achieved this milestone. Completing my paralegal apprenticeship and to be moving straight onto the solicitor apprenticeship is huge for me. I’ve found it really helpful and a great opportunity to combine theory with practice, as I’ve learned the ropes of what being a paralegal is all about. I’m looking forward to building on my experience at Square One Law and am pleased to be part of the growing Leeds team and hope to be the first of many apprentices to qualify here.”
Gill Hunter, managing partner at Square One Law, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Declan, Dominka, and Kyle, who each represent the future of Square One Law in different ways. Declan and Dominka are talented new solicitors strengthening our already excellent Corporate and Litigation practices, while Kyle is genuinely blazing a trail as our first solicitor apprentice.
"Supporting different career pathways into law and increasing opportunities for people are things we’re passionate about. Kyle’s progress has been brilliant to witness and demonstrates the vital role apprenticeships can play in developing the next generation of legal talent and helping firms grow.”