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

Wedlake Bell
City law firm Wedlake Bell has appointed two partners, James Fry and Emma Sear. They will be part of the commercial property and residential property teams respectively, boosting the firm's offering. Fry is joining from Fladgate and Sear from Trowers & Hamlins, the firm said in a statement.

Fry’s 25 years’ experience in commercial real estate matters ranges from investment acquisitions and disposals to development and secured lending. In addition, Fry is acknowledged as a prominent figure in the hotel and leisure sector – an area he will expand at Wedlake Bell. He specialises in advising privately owned and family-run hotel businesses from single sites to large portfolios. Fry acts for domestic and international clients from institutional investors to family offices and entrepreneurs.

Sear’s practice encompasses all aspects of residential real estate for clients ranging from private investors and banks to developers and tenants and landlords. She has a particular expertise in the property investments of high net worth clients. Her remit will include advising on portfolio transactions, property management and first registrations of unregistered titles; a recent instruction involved the first registration and transfers of part to restructure a substantial rural property between family members.

Their arrival takes the total partnership at Wedlake Bell to 80. Their recruitment follows the firm’s hires of Clarissa Levi, Hollie Gallagher and Simon Blackburn earlier in 2025 alongside the organic growth of four lawyers being promoted to partner this year.

“Their arrival marks our intent to continue to expand our already substantial offering in both the commercial property and private client spheres for our global client base and new business,” Martin Arnold, managing partner at Wedlake Bell, said.

Nucleus Financial Platforms
Nucleus Financial Platforms, a large UK advisor platform group, has appointed Andrew Ring as chief financial officer, subject to regulatory approval. .

Ring, who will be joining Nucleus in September, will also be a member of the executive committee, and will join the group board.

He has two decades of experience working across the financial services sector and a track record of operating as a chief financial officer. He will be replacing Alan McDonald, who has been interim CFO at Nucleus since the end of last year, and will remain in the role until Ring starts.

Ring is currently chief financial and commercial officer for FNZ in the UK, Middle East and Africa, and before that he was CFO for the firm’s UK business.  Prior to joining FNZ, he was group finance director at Hitachi Capital UK and spent eight years at Barclays Group where latterly he was finance director for its UK Corporate Banking division.

“This is an exciting time as we continue to invest heavily in our proposition and service to drive better outcomes for our customers. Having someone of Andrew’s calibre will help steer our business as we grow and transform in the years ahead,” Richard Rowney, Nucleus group CEO, said. “I’d also like to thank Alan McDonald for his leadership as interim CFO. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with him and wish him well for the future.”

Mirabaud
Mirabaud Asset Management, part of Geneva-headquartered Mirabaud private bank, has appointed Gurdeep Bumbra (pictured) as senior portfolio manager within its global equities franchise.

Based in London, he will serve as lead manager for the Global Focus equity strategy, and will join a team including Paul Middleton, lead manager of the Global Dividend Fund, and Mohamed Hussein, global equities analyst.

Bumbra has more than 20 years of experience in international equities, primarily at Pictet Asset Management, where he was a senior investment manager involved with international and emerging equities. Alongside his portfolio management responsibilities, he also spent a period overseeing research for international equities. His expertise across regions and sectors, combined with a fundamental, long-term philosophy, aligns well with Mirabaud’s core investment principles, the firm said in a statement.

Bumbra’s appointment follows the promotion of Umberto Boccato to CEO and Andrew Lake to CIO.

“Gurdeep is a seasoned investor with a clear philosophy and proven results,” Lake said. “His appointment reflects our focus on strengthening our core capabilities where we can add meaningful value for clients, particularly through concentrated, forward-looking strategies.”