Movers & Shakers: Yorkshire & Humber

2022

January

Blacks Solicitors has promoted Saby Sambhi (corporate and commercial) and Charlotte Hart (residential property) to solicitor partners.

Hugh Thompson, head of the private client team at Lupton Fawcett, has qualified as a notary public.

Clarion Solicitors has announced the appointment of four new associates. Anna- Elise Harvey joins the employment team as a specialist in employment and business immigration. Zaigham Jaffri join the real estate team and has experience of property finance transactions representing banks and other institutional lenders. Jack Farrer works in the commercial team and has experience of advising private and public sector clients. Andrew Crisp works in the costs and litigation funding team.

McCormicks Solicitors has appointed Kate Develly as a criminal law executive. Develly previously worked in the police service for nine years.

Stone King has appointed Laura Giles as a senior associate in the corporate & commercial team based in the Leeds office.

Blacks Solicitors has made a number of senior promotions. In the property team there have been five promotions to senior associate solicitor; Jonathan Kay (commercial property), Jennifer Gillespie (commercial property), Marcus Kaye (commercial property), Emma Garfitt (residential property), and Perdip Bhachu (residential property). James Ricketts (risk and compliance) is now also a senior associate solicitor. Shamaila Khan (commercial property) has been promoted to senior associate licensed conveyancer, with Sarah Kellett (residential property) promoted to associate licensed conveyancer. Six team members are now associate solicitors; Ben Finley (commercial property), Chloe Grainger (CDR), Yat Wong (CDR), Andrew Morgan (CDR), Jenna Meehan (corporate and commercial), and Amer Ali (residential property). Blacks has also promoted Alex Hall (corporate & commercial) to associate legal executive.

Lupton Fawcett has promoted private client lawyer Charlene Vilia to associate. Based at the firm’s Sheffield office. 

Silk Family Law has promoted solicitor Nia Jameson to associate.

February

Ward Hadaway has appointed Emma Digby to the role of executive partner of the Leeds office.  The appointment was made following the decision by previous post-holder John Murray to relocate to the North East.  This team is now going to be led by partner Simon Thirtle, and Murray is going to dedicate his time to the housing management practice in the North East.

Schofield Sweeney has promoted Daniel Bisby to partner in the corporate team.

Real estate and commercial lawyer Javi Khanijau, based in Harrogate, has joined Excello Law.

Schofield Sweeney has made a number of senior promotions. Duncan Watson has been promoted to director in the private wealth team.  Abigail Falshaw has been promoted to associate in the commercial property team and Damian Kilroy has been promoted to associate in the litigation team.

Indemnity Legal has appointed Kirsty Luff as an associate partner in the policyholder disputes practice.

Graysons has announced that Megan Wroe has qualified as a solicitor into the family law team.

Schofield Sweeney has promoted Ann-Marie Keighley to associate.

KBW has announced that Christine Egerton and Katy Rafter have been appointed as Deputy District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts).

KBW has welcomed June Venters QC as a door tenant.

March

Ward Hadaway’s property litigation team has welcomed Helen Hill as a partner.

Walker Morris has appointed three new senior associates to its banking and finance litigation team. Ashley Neville, Isabel Clough and Georgina Davis

Jones Myers Solicitors has welcomed family law solicitor Becky Vine to the firm’s financial remedies team.

Hall Brown Family Law has appointed Louise Butcher as an associate solicitor.

Blacks Solicitors has appointed Paul Sagar as a senior associate in the commercial dispute resolution team.

Gordons has appointed commercial litigation solicitor and current Leeds Law Society president, Catherine Woodward, as its head of diversity and inclusion.

Andrew Jackson has welcomed Lucy Walther and Charlene Merry to the private client team. Based in the York office, Walther is experienced in cases relating to divorce, children, and family finances. Merry is based in the Hull office and advises clients on wills, care fee planning, inheritance, lasting powers of attorney, as well as probate and estate administration.

Eaton Smith has welcomed Lindsay Preston as a senior litigator in the personal injury team. Preston is a trustee at the Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership.

Eaton Smith has announced the appointment of Ashley Mallett as head of  residential conveyancing.

KBW has welcomed Nicholas Rhodes QC as a door tenant

April

Gordons has announced six new partner promotions. Head of start-ups and emerging companies, Amy Pierechod, and head of digital and technology, Ryan Gracey, have both been appointed from within Gordons’ corporate and commercial specialism. Employment lawyer Bryony Goldspink and commercial property solicitor James Kimberley, who both joined the firm as trainees, have also been made up to partner. Recent joiners, head of banking, Ben Roden, and head of restructuring, Jonathan Jackson, complete the six.

Ison Harrison has promoted Erin Johnston (private client), Geraldine Levison (commercial property), Dhiran Mistry (commercial and residential property) and Nigel Monaghan (family law) to the role of partner.

Arc Pensions Law has announced the promotion of Robert Walker to partner. Walker advises employers and trustees on all aspects of pensions law, including in relation to compliance and governance, liability management and corporate activity. He sits on the committee for the North East Association of Pension Lawyers and is a member of the Pensions Management Institute.

Private client solicitor, Daniel Cooil, has joined Wrigleys’ Sheffield probate, trusts & estate planning team. Cooil qualified as a solicitor in 2019 and has specialised in matters for private clients during his training and since qualification, with an emphasis on capital tax and estate planning for individuals and families. Cooil is an affiliated member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Arc Pensions Law has welcomed Charlotte Clewes-Boyne to its Leeds office. Clewes-Boyne advises on a range of pensions-related matters and projects for both employees and trustees. She has particular expertise in corporate due diligence work, IDRPs and pension scams.

The Switalskis Group has welcomed Gaynor Appleyard as head of marketing and business development. The group-wide role will see her work alongside existing teams from the three Switalskis businesses - Switalskis Solicitors, Atherton Godfrey and Pryers Solicitors.

Withers & Rogers has promoted three patent attorneys to the firm’s partnership. In the Sheffield office, Gemma McGeough and Chris Froud have been made partner.

EIP has announced three promotions to its partnership. Tim Belcher is based in the Leeds office and is a UK and European patent attorney with 12 years’ experience. He joined EIP in 2014 and has experience in dealing with patents across the chemical field, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical and polymer/industrial chemistry. Belcher is currently on part-time secondment at a global pharmaceutical company working in their global patents team.

Exchange Chambers has welcomed Emily Hassell as a new member in Leeds following the successful completion of her criminal pupillage.

St Johns Buildings has welcomed Natalia Levine as a member of the family team in Sheffield. Levine is a specialist in children law (both public and private), adult social care and in the Court of Protection. She was called to the Bar in 2007.

May

Eversheds Sutherland (International) has made 31 partner promotions with effect from 1 May 2022. Promoted in the Leeds office is Charlotte Tanikal (core real estate).

Addleshaw Goddard has invited 20 lawyers to join its partnership, as of 1 May 2022. Promoted in Leeds are: Mark Broomfield (construction & engineering); Carly Gulliver (corporate); and Ally MacKenzie (construction & engineering).

CMS has announced the promotion of 60 new partners. Sheffield-based Martin Garner (real estate disputes) joins the partnership.

Mills & Reeve has appointed Alex Newman, a specialist intellectual property lawyer, as a partner.

Morrish Solicitors has announced that the clinical negligence team has moved to a new office in Bradford. The address is Malik House, 29 Manor Row, BD1 4PS.

Raworths has announced that Simon Morris has been appointed as managing partner with effect from 1 April 2022, succeeding Zoe Robinson who is stepping down after ten years in the role. A corporate lawyer specialising in advising privately- owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and high- net-worth individuals, Morris has been with the firm for over 20 years. Meanwhile Rachel Tunnicliffe, head of private client,

becomes senior partner. With over 30 years’ experience in wills, trusts, and succession issues, Tunnicliffe advises individuals, business owners, and families.

Capsticks has announced a number of promotions, including 11 salaried partners. In the Leeds office, Tracey Blundell (real estate) has been promoted.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) has promoted 17 lawyers to legal director, with effect from 1 May 2022. They include Leeds-based Oliver Beaulah (legal managed services), Sarah Turner (corporate) and Andy Wright (pensions).

Squire Patton Boggs has announced six senior hires spanning four offices to its data privacy, cybersecurity & digital assets practice. Christian Brundell join the firm as senior associates in Leeds.

Switalskis Solicitors has appointed Ryan Dhinsa as a solicitor in the commercial property department. He represents landlords and tenants in sectors including industrial, manufacturing, retail, office and leisure.

Switalskis Solicitors has promoted associate solicitors, Amy Clowrey and Natalie Cosgrove, to directors. Clowrey is a member of the firm’s child abuse claims team. Cosgrove specialises in medical negligence and inquests.

Ramsdens Solicitors has expanded its clinical negligence and personal injury practice in Leeds with three new appointments. Associate Nick Stojanovic has more than 20 years’ experience and has acted for claimants and defendants. He deals with all matters involving negligence cases against medical and healthcare providers and has experience of handling cases of serious and life-changing injuries and those involving fatalities. Ian Miles and Claire Exelby join as litigation executives. Miles has more than 20 years’ experience of handling injury work and specialises in employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability and road traffic accident injury claims.

Wake Smith has appointed Stacey Cox as a new director and head of employment and HR services.

Ware & Kay has announced the appointment of Kalpesh Nakeshree as head of the employment department based in the York office.

Wilkinson Woodward has welcomed Aneesah Ansar to the family team.

Capsticks has promoted seven new principal associates. In the Leeds office, Rob Maughan (claims), Lee Carroll and Sean Hick (both employment) have been promoted.

Switalskis Solicitors has appointed Julie Guest to a new role as head of people.

June

Irwin Mitchell has promoted Helen Revill to partner in the family team based in the Leeds office.

DAC Beachcroft has announced 17 promotions to partner with effect from 1 May 2022. Laura Clayburn (professional & commercial risk) and Tim Pickworth (commercial litigation) have been promoted in Leeds.

Mills & Reeve has promoted a number of principal associates to partner with effect from 1 June 2022, including four in Leeds. Ellie Milner specialises in advising clients in relation to wills, estate planning, asset protection and personal tax. Alex Kenworthy has 20 years’ experience advising private and public companies, large international groups, owner-managed mid-market businesses and high-net-worth individuals. Andrea Newman is a property lawyer with a strong background in complex development projects. Rebecca Pallot is an employment lawyer with extensive experience working for healthcare and charity clients.

Schofield Sweeney’s commercial property team has been joined by Simon Hellewell. He has over 25 years’ experience in acting for developers, property investors and retailers.

Rahman Ravelli has promoted Niall Hearty to partner. Hearty has experience of white-collar crime, and cases involving bribery and corruption, fraud, money laundering, proceeds of crime and serious and general crime.

Capsticks has welcomed a new partner to its health and justice team from DWF. Naomi McMaster will lead the team and has more than 15 years’ experience of representing Article 2 inquests and related civil claims, public inquiries and judicial review.

DAC Beachcroft has announced 18 promotions to legal director with effect from 1 May 2022. Suki Attwal (employment) and Naomi Park (professional & commercial risks) have been promoted in Leeds.

Irwin Mitchell has promoted Roopen Kalirai to associate solicitor in Leeds and

Maisie Huynh to senior associate in Sheffield, both in the family team.

Blacks Solicitors has welcomed back Pete Konieczko-Hansom as senior associate and head of intellectual property in the corporate and commercial teams. He also has significant intellectual property (IP) experience and will head up the firm’s IP offering. This includes advising on trademark registrations and licensing.

Nick Barnes has joined Ramsdens Solicitors’ York office as a senior associate in the children’s law team.

Schofield Sweeney’s commercial property team has been joined by solicitor Diana Ciurdar. She advises clients on disposals, acquisitions, landlord and tenant matters and real estate finance.

Wrigleys has welcomed Antonia Moore, an experienced private client solicitor, to its Leeds office. Moore, who has over 20 years’ experience in private practice in Yorkshire, advises on estate planning, trusts and associated tax matters.

Holly Marshall has been offered a permanent role with Wrigleys following her successful training contract. She joins the probate, trusts and estate planning team in Leeds. She has been with the firm for four years, first as a paralegal in Sheffield, and then since 2020 as a trainee solicitor.

Gallagher, an insurance brokerage, risk management, and human capital consultant company, has appointed Daniel O’Connell as a member of its mergers & acquisitions team in the North of England. At Gallagher, he will be responsible for developing relationships and delivering solutions to law firms, private equity houses and businesses involved in M&A in the North of England.

Her Honour Judge Anne Molyneux MBE retires as a Senior Circuit Judge with effect from 6 June 2022.

His Honour Judge Martyn Zeidman QC retired as a Senior Circuit Judge with effect from 28 May 2022. Zeidman was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1974 and took Silk in 1998. He was

Her Honour Judge Judith Moir retires as a Circuit Judge with effect from 2 June 2022.

Judge Judith Birbeck retires with effect from 1 June 2022. Birbeck was admitted as a solicitor in 1979.

District Judge Stephen Nichols retires from the District Bench with effect from 1 June 2022.

He was appointed a Deputy District Judge in 2001 and a District Judge in 2014.

Sills & Betteridge has announced that Shan Jaehrig, Gainsborough branch manager, has retired from the firm. Employment lawyer Jaehrig joined the firm’s corporate & commercial department in 2006 becoming a partner a year later.

Birketts has announced that debt recovery manager Robert Howard is retiring after almost 50 years with the firm

30 Park Place has announced that two new tenants have joined chambers and the return of Ffion Tomos. Neil Rees joins the civil team following the completion of his probationary tenancy. Rees recently transferred to the Bar after practising as a solicitor for 12 years. Tomos has returned from her role as a prosecutor in the Cayman Islands.

Park Square Barristers has announced that Kate Bisset has been appointed as a legal advisor to Social Work England.

Nadim Bashir, of Park Square Barristers, has been appointed as assistant coroner at Kingston upon Hull Coroner’s court. This role is in addition to his being an assistant coroner for South Wales, a position he has held since 2018. He will sit part-time whilst continuing his criminal and regulatory practice which includes representing interested parties at inquests and advising on coronial matters.