The latest moves and appointments for the wealth management sector in the UK, rest of Europe, Middle East and select international locations.

Stephenson Harwood
Law firm Stephenson Harwood has added private wealth specialist Beatrice Puoti. She joins as a partner based in the firm's London office.

Puoti's primary focus is on international tax, trusts and estate planning for UK and non-UK resident and domiciled clients. She is experienced in advising financial institutions and trustees on international trust and tax matters, and on the ownership, structuring and acquisition of UK and non-UK real estate.

Puoti is also experienced in advising on the laws of various European jurisdictions, specialising in cross-border estate planning and – in particular – dealing with the interaction of Roman law and common law. Formerly Puoti worked at Burges Salmon, where she was a partner and head of the firm's private wealth sector.

"Continuing to grow our private wealth, private capital and funds capabilities aligns with our strategic objective to strengthen our key areas of focus," Eifion Morris, chief executive, Stephenson Harwood, said. "Beatrice is the fifth lateral partner to join Stephenson Harwood's private wealth team in under two years, including Jonathan Conder who joined last year, further strengthening this area of focus – these appointments demonstrate our ongoing investment in this area. She's multiple award-winning, well-known and highly regarded in the private wealth arena and, as well as bringing a wealth of expertise and knowledge, she also has first-hand experience of developing a cross-departmental practice, and of doing so with notable success: this spirit of collective entrepreneurialism is an ethos we share."

"With more than three decades of experience advising clients on private wealth matters, Beatrice brings a depth and breadth of skill that is rare to find," said Jenny McKeown, head of employment, pensions and private wealth, Stephenson Harwood. "Her strong European skillset complements that of existing partners and associates in the team and further bolsters the truly international reach of the firm's private client capabilities. Her recognised enthusiasm for supporting the careers of more junior lawyers will be an asset as we continue to develop and strengthen the practice."

The Stephenson Harwood multi-disciplinary global private wealth team advises individuals, their families, family offices, private banks and trustees on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters, with a particular focus on structuring clients' complex international affairs, estates and assets, including family businesses and corporate structures.

CCLA Investment Management
CCLA Investment Management, a responsible investor pioneer and the UK’s largest charity investment manager, has announced the appointment of Tessa Younger as stewardship lead for the environment. Tessa joined CCLA last month in a newly-created role to add capacity and momentum to the pioneering work undertaken by Helen Wildsmith, CCLA’s climate change stewardship director, and the firm’s wider sustainability team.

Younger will lead CCLA’s ‘Better Environment’ work, managing all stewardship on environmental issues, including climate change and nature – aiming to achieve clear improvements at the companies in which CCLA invests. She will work alongside Wildsmith and report to Dr James Corah, head of sustainability at CCLA.

Previously, Younger spent many years at PIRC Ltd – Europe’s largest independent corporate governance and shareholder advisory consultancy – where she was most recently held the head of engagement. At PIRC, she was responsible for developing active ownership strategies for asset owner clients, steering engagement with listed corporates, and effecting market-wide change through the promotion of strong policy stances, with a particular focus on climate risk and carbon emissions.

Younger also ran the engagement programme for the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) whose members comprise most of the local authority pension funds in the UK. During this time, Younger worked closely with CCLA while collaborating on investor initiatives and campaigns, including leading on a ‘Say on Climate’ initiative to encourage FTSE companies to put their climate transition plans to a shareholder vote.

Dr Corah said: “As an asset manager, it is crucial that we use our financial power and ownership rights to push for positive change on the issues that matter, including climate change and natural capital … but doing this takes time, resource and expertise. I am therefore delighted that Tessa has joined us to help drive this agenda forward – her track record in active ownership and of leading industry coalitions on climate is exemplary and will support us greatly in our ongoing efforts to protect the natural environment and bring investors together to build a better, healthier, natural world.”

Younger said: “CCLA is not your average investor. Its work over the years to engage companies and governments on a whole range of issues, but notably on climate change, is almost unparalleled. Having worked alongside CCLA in a collaborative manner while I was at PIRC, I have long respected their integrity and their unswerving commitment to delivering real-world change. I am delighted to join such a dynamic leader whose values I share and to accelerate progress and deliver impact in collaboration with colleagues, clients and our industry peers.”

Younger’s appointment is the latest in a series of senior hires CCLA has made to its sustainability team. Late last year, CCLA announced the appointment of Dame Sara Thornton (former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner) as a consultant on modern slavery and Dr Martin Buttle to lead CCLA’s ‘Better Work’ stream focused on ensuring fair and sustainable working conditions.

CCLA currently manages investments for charities, religious organisations and the public sector. Founded in 1958, it aims to deliver strong long-term returns and has over 50 years’ experience in providing ethical and responsible investment to charities. CCLA is independently owned by its clients with £13 billion of assets under management as at 31 December 2022.

Dawson Cornwell
Specialist family law firm, Dawson Cornwell has appointed Hilka Hollman as a partner.

Hollman is a family law expert who specialises in children, adoption, and surrogacy law. She is an expert in all facets of domestic and international children law, including complex cases frequently involving extremely serious allegations. Hollman also has expertise in adoption and surrogacy,  representing children in complex care proceedings with an international dimension, and cases relating to sexual abuse and radicalisation.

Hollman, who was formerly a partner at Freemans, has nearly two decades of family law experience, some of which has been gained in high-profile cases before the High Court and Court of Appeal. Hollman is on the Law Society’s Children Panel, is an accredited resolution specialist lawyer for child abduction and adoptions, and has co-authored Resolution’s response to the Law Commission’s consultation on proposed changes to surrogacy law in England and Wales. She has been ranked in Chambers for the past six years for her expertise in children's matters.

The firm said that Hollman’s appointment builds on the recent addition of partner Amy Rowe, a specialist on international children law and cross-border disputes, who joined Dawson Cornwell’s Children Department in 2021.

Hollman’s knowledge of adoption, fertility and surrogacy law and her experience in the field will bolster Dawson Cornwell’s surrogacy and alternative families’ practice, building on the Children Department’s years of experience and involvement in shaping the development of surrogacy law, the firm added.

In response to her appointment, Hilka said: “I am excited to join Dawson Cornwell’s internationally-renowned Children Department. I look forward to bringing my experience in children law, adoptions, and surrogacy matters to the firm’s well-regarded and growing practice. The success and growth of Dawson Cornwell’s Children Department is extremely impressive, and the knowledge and expertise in family law across the firm is second to none.”

Head of Dawson Cornwell’s Children Department, Carolina Marín Pedreño, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Hilka as partner in our specialist Children Department. Her knowledge and experience will be an invaluable asset as we continue to develop and strengthen our successful practice.”

The firm, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary now comprises 13 partners and over 30 members.

ZEDRA
ZEDRA, a global provider of global expansion and corporate services, active wealth, pensions and incentives, and fund solutions, has announced the appointments of Archie Irtizaali and Michelle Panayi as client development directors.

Jersey-based Irtizaali will be reinforcing existing partnerships and building new ones globally, focusing on expanding business activity, embedding key relationships and enhancing revenue opportunities. Irtizaali has over 20 years of client development experience working in financial services, where he has served in senior roles for global businesses including law firms and – most recently – a global funds administrator.

Panayi, who is based in ZEDRA’s London office, is responsible for designing, developing and implementing global client-focused strategies, including ZEDRA’s key client initiatives such as the Client Listening Programme which proactively collects invaluable feedback from clients and trusted partners on ZEDRA’s offering and client service. Panayi has over 20 years’ experience within professional services, including senior positions at Grant Thornton and BDO.

Panayi said: “Given ZEDRA’s rapid growth and addition of new services, our client base has broadened to include new demographics with bespoke needs. Providing our clients with a best-in-class experience has always been our number one priority and we will continually invest in this to exceed client needs and support them with tailored solutions as they grow.”

Welcoming them, Richard Wakeham, head of commercial and solutions, UK/Offshore at ZEDRA, added: “I am delighted that Michelle and Archie have joined the team. These strategic appointments bolster our position both internally, with staff and management, and externally, with clients and trusted partners, as we move into our eighth year of sustained growth. They also highlight ZEDRA’s continued commitment to combining excellent standards of technical competence with outstanding client service.”