Suffolk Business Magazine Jan2010
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January 2010 suffolkbusiness 15 COMPANYPROFILE A S far as Hawksmoor Investment Management is concerned, the client is king. Formerly the investment management arm of solicitors Ashton Graham, Hawksmoor’s new Ipswich office combines a sound legal footing with the highest levels of experience in the financial markets to offer a service tailored to each individual client. “Behind every portfolio is a client and a family with a specific need,” urges Max, “and we never forget that.” Max joined Ashton Graham five-and-a-half years ago to head up the investment management part of the business which, having been set up in 1995, was already well established. In recent years, however, it became clear that the business could stand alone and Max looked for a way of taking it forward. He said: “Whilst we enjoyed an excellent relationship with the partners we felt rather restricted by the glass ceiling; working under the auspices of a law firm meant our investment business was incidental. We were hiding our light under a bushel and unable to market our services and grow. “We had discussions with the board and agreed that we should be a stand- alone entity, run profitably by our experienced staff and with the aim of recruiting experienced people like Alex from London to come here and bring their expertise with them.” It was a vision shared by another player in the solicitor-investment manager market, John Crowley, who established Hawksmoor in Exeter in February 2008. On inspection John had not only a similar background in the legal arena but also a vision of delivering the kind of service to private clients that you would want for your own family which was both professional and personal and based in the regions not in the City. Ashton Graham’s investment management wing thus became Hawksmoor’s second office. The acquisition added £30million to the company’s assets, which currently total more than £50million, and boosted its client base to more than 320. “We connected very strongly with John and it became clear that we shared similar values. We want to offer unashamedly bespoke personal investment devised to fit each client and we were fortunate that he was already a year down the road,” said Max, “which meant we could start on first floor level rather than starting in the basement. “We put together a robust business plan which not only made sense to us and to Ashton Graham, but that we could take to our clients, which is what we did, seeing just about all of them in a ten week period. Despite difficult market conditions – some people thought we were mad to embark on this level of change – you could say we asked our clients to renew their vows. Their response was overwhelming support for our plans, which was very gratifying, and thus we have been Hawksmoor since April 2009.” The decision to take residence at Waterfront House, Ashton Graham’s landmark building on the fast redeveloping Ipswich Waterfront, reaffirms that Hawksmoor’s office there exists with its former parent’s blessing, though of course it is now at liberty to interact with any law firm or professional advisor. “A lot of referrals come from solicitors, financial advisers and accountants as well as professional introducers. We also do a lot of work for Trusts and with personal injury clients, where the money they have is a double edged sword, and often they would rather not have it because it has meant they have been injured or disadvantaged in some way. In those circumstances we work with the utmost sensitivity, with their solicitor, to find the right solution for them.” Hawksmoor in Exeter and Ipswich has since started recruiting by luring professionals from rival firms, including from the City, each bringing experience and knowledge to the party, made possible by the use of state of the art technology. Recent hires have included a new CIO in Richard Scott and Daniel Lockyer, both fund managers with established reputations. “We have made lifestyle decisions to be here, and the technology allows us to do that,” smiles Max. Hawksmoor Investment Management: The story so far Twenty months ago Max Weatherby and Alex Boyle set out to establish a unique investment management business in Ipswich to specialise in private client investment. Sheline Clarke caught up with them at the firm’s offices at Waterfront House to see how they are getting on For more information contact Hawksmoor Waterfront House Wherry Quay Ipswich IP4 1AS Tel: 01473 341930 www.hawksmoorim.co.uk Alex Boyle is writing a regular column in the East Anglia Daily Times from January The first Hawksmoor Investment seminar for professional introducers will be held next year. Max Weatherby, Alex Boyle and Alison Etheridge of Hawksmoor Investment Management, Ipswich
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Transcript of Suffolk Business Magazine Jan2010
January 2010 suffolkbusiness 15
COMPANYPROFILE
AS far as Hawksmoor InvestmentManagement is concerned, theclient is king. Formerly the
investment management arm ofsolicitors Ashton Graham, Hawksmoor’snew Ipswich office combines a soundlegal footing with the highest levels ofexperience in the financial markets tooffer a service tailored to each individualclient.
“Behind every portfolio is a client anda family with a specific need,” urgesMax, “and wenever forgetthat.”
Max joinedAshton Grahamfive-and-a-halfyears ago to headup theinvestmentmanagementpart of thebusiness which,having been setup in 1995, was already wellestablished.
In recent years, however, it becameclear that the business could stand aloneand Max looked for a way of taking itforward.
He said: “Whilst we enjoyed anexcellent relationship with the partnerswe felt rather restricted by the glassceiling; working under the auspices of alaw firm meant our investment businesswas incidental. We were hiding ourlight under a bushel and unable tomarket our services and grow.
“We had discussions with the boardand agreed that we should be a stand-alone entity, run profitably by ourexperienced staff and with the aim ofrecruiting experienced people like Alexfrom London to come here and bringtheir expertise with them.”
It was a vision shared by anotherplayer in the solicitor-investmentmanager market, John Crowley, whoestablished Hawksmoor in Exeter inFebruary 2008. On inspection John hadnot only a similar background in thelegal arena but also a vision of deliveringthe kind of service to private clients thatyou would want for your own familywhich was both professional andpersonal and based in the regions not inthe City.
Ashton Graham’s investmentmanagement wing thus becameHawksmoor’s second office. Theacquisition added £30million to thecompany’s assets, which currently totalmore than £50million, and boosted itsclient base to more than 320.
“We connected very strongly withJohn and it became clear that we sharedsimilar values. We want to offerunashamedly bespoke personalinvestment devised to fit each client andwe were fortunate that he was already ayear down the road,” said Max, “whichmeant we could start on first floor levelrather than starting in the basement.
“We put together a robust businessplan which not only made sense to usand to Ashton Graham, but that we
could take to ourclients, which iswhat we did,seeing just aboutall of them in aten week period.Despite difficultmarketconditions –some peoplethought we weremad to embarkon this level of
change – you could say we asked ourclients to renew their vows. Theirresponse was overwhelming support forour plans, which was very gratifying,and thus we have been Hawksmoorsince April 2009.”
The decision to take residence atWaterfront House, Ashton Graham’slandmark building on the fastredeveloping Ipswich Waterfront,reaffirms that Hawksmoor’s office thereexists with its former parent’s blessing,though of course it is now at liberty tointeract with any law firm or professionaladvisor.
“A lot of referrals come from solicitors,financial advisers and accountants aswell as professional introducers. We alsodo a lot of work for Trusts and withpersonal injury clients, where the moneythey have is a double edged sword, andoften they would rather not have itbecause it has meant they have beeninjured or disadvantaged in some way.In those circumstances we work with theutmost sensitivity, with their solicitor, tofind the right solution for them.”
Hawksmoor in Exeter and Ipswich hassince started recruiting by luringprofessionals from rival firms, includingfrom the City, each bringing experienceand knowledge to the party, madepossible by the use of state of the arttechnology. Recent hires have includeda new CIO in Richard Scott and DanielLockyer, both fund managers withestablished reputations.
“We have made lifestyle decisions tobe here, and the technology allows us todo that,” smiles Max.
Hawksmoor InvestmentManagement: The story so farTwenty months ago Max Weatherby and Alex Boyle set out to establisha unique investment management business in Ipswich to specialise inprivate client investment. SShheelliinnee CCllaarrkkee caught up with them at thefirm’s offices at Waterfront House to see how they are getting on
For more informationcontact HawksmoorWaterfront HouseWherry QuayIpswich IP4 1ASTel: 01473 341930www.hawksmoorim.co.uk
Alex Boyle is writing a regular column in theEast Anglia Daily Times from January
The first Hawksmoor Investment seminar forprofessional introducers will be held next year.
Max Weatherby, Alex Boyleand Alison Etheridge ofHawksmoor InvestmentManagement, Ipswich
