Leading professional services firm Knights has announced the initial six partners who will be joining its new Derby office.
Highly regarded commercial lawyer, Andrew Pilkington has been appointed to head up Knights’ Derby offering.
Andrew, who has more than 20 years’ expertise both in private practice and as an in-house advisor at Rolls Royce, joins the firm as managing partner of the new Derby office. He will be joined by a team of 13 professionals, including six partners, based at their new Pride Park home.
He says that the opportunity to help launch the Knights’ vision in Derby was too good to miss.
“If you consider the transformation since CEO David Beech took the helm and the clear vision for the future, it’s certainly an exciting prospect to be leading Knights’ new Derby office and to play a part in its continuing success,” said Andrew.
“Having seen the model work so well in Chester – with that office doubling in turnover and growing in size by more than 65 per cent in less than two years – I am looking forward to helping replicate that here in Derby.
“There is an excellent team joining me in Derby, with more to follow, and I am looking forward to engaging with the Derby business community.”
Joining Andrew are five more partners including David Williams, a corporate and commercial partner with more than 30 years’ experience.
Specialising in mergers and acquisitions for businesses of all sizes, David has excellent links in the East Midlands, having previously been the regional chairman for the Institute of Directors.
“It is an exciting prospect to join a firm with Knights’ reputation, especially at this stage in my career,” David said. “It’s an opportunity for me to create a real legal legacy in the region before I retire.
“I have spoken to former equity partners at Knights and they are extremely passionate and enthusiastic about their new corporate business structure.
“Knights has a great reputation for delivering excellent services to its clients and I am looking forward to working with them in Derby.”
Mike Sullivan is the next partner to join Knights. As a partner in the real estate team, he will be responsible for a wide range of real estate transactions and has extensive experience in investment acquisitions and disposals.
Mike will be working on all aspects of property management transactions, property finance work and general property-related advice in corporate transactions.
He said he was thrilled about being a part of Knights’ growth in Derby.
“It’s a really exciting time to be working with Knights and I’m really glad to be a part of it.
“Since qualifying in 2006 I have worked throughout the East Midlands and know the local real estate market very well.
“I’m looking forward to working with businesses in and around Derby and the East Midlands,” he said.
The new team will be joined by existing Knights’ partners Hélène Maillet-Vioud and Jonathan Tyson who are moving over from the firm’s Staffordshire-based head office.
Hélène, an asset management partner has been with Knights for three years and heads up Knights’ outsourcing and projects team. Jonathan is a corporate partner with a stellar reputation for his work with dental practices, specialising in the sales and purchases of practices. Jonathan won the Leading Adviser title at the 2014 Midlands Family Business Awards.
To complete its opening day line-up of professionals, Knights has also hired a partner-led, five-strong private client team with further details to follow.
The Derby team will be supported by more than 200 professionals from Knights who work in multi-office teams to support a regional and national client base. Knights has plans to build a 30-strong team of professionals in its first 12 months.
