The latest senior moves in wealth planning and legal services across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Harbottle & Lewis
UK law firm Harbottle & Lewis is adding two practitioners to its private capital business. Marianne Kafena is joining as a partner and Morag Ofili as a senior associate working in the firm's private client and tax team.

Kafena, who is a private client lawyer with expertise in advising families and their private offices in the Middle East, is joining from Farrers. Her practice includes establishing and supporting family offices and structuring assets and cross-border tax and succession planning.

Ofili, who is joining from Mishcon de Reya, is a specialist in tax investigations and civil litigation. She regularly acts for clients in actions arising from failed tax planning, including professional negligence, commercial fraud and judicial review claims, and insolvency based disputes.

The UK law firm, best known for its work in the technology, media and entertainment sectors, also hired Sofie Hoffman as a partner last month, who focuses on international contentious trust and probate matters, often involving dishonesty allegations. “All three women are well-established leading legal professionals, with each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise," managing partner at the London-based firm, Glen Atchison, said.

Nucleus
Nucleus, the advisor-built wrap platform, has appointed Martin Ettles as its chief risk officer.

This new role has been created to help promote risk management as a strategic driver of success and Ettles will work with the Nucleus board to formulate the company’s risk strategies and oversee their implementation across the business, Nucleus said in a statement.

He has joined from Phoenix Group, where he was director of conduct and compliance, overseeing regulatory and conduct risk and developing its risk management frameworks. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having started his career at Standard Life in 1999.

His appointment follows an internal review of executive responsibilities prompted by the introduction of the UK’s senior managers and certification regime, which was rolled out across the wider financial services sector in December 2019.

Ettles will be responsible for regulatory analysis and monitoring as well as overseeing compliance agreements. He will report to Nucleus chief executive David Ferguson, and will also work with Tracy Dunley-Owen, chair of Nucleus’ audit and risk committees.

PIMFA
Following last week’s announcement that Tim Fassam is coming on as director of government relations and policy in a new role, PIMFA(Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association) announced further staff changes on Monday as part of its succession planning, which the trade group said it has been developing over the past two years.

Fassam will lead the association on forming policy and engaging with the government on the UK’s forward relationship with the EU, and lead general ongoing policy sector needs. From April, the group’s director of regulation, Ian Cornwall, will move into a strategic advisory role supporting Fassam. On a path to retiring in October, Cornwall will continue reporting to the CEO answering industry queries and supporting senior policy advisors and other team members, the organisation said.

In more restructuring in May, deputy CEO John Barrass will also begin a strategic advisory role providing insights on Brexit planning and retail markets policies, among other industry concerns.

PIMFA CEO Liz Field, said: “We are very fortunate to have such expertise within the organisation and I am very pleased that both Ian and John have agreed to continue supporting us. This expertise is invaluable and I know appreciated by our members, stakeholders and the PIMFA team.”