This week’s Yorkshire appointments

hlw Keeble Hawson has appointed a HR manager to drive recruitment and training in line with the firm’s growth strategy.

Since achieving her Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Associate Level qualification twelve years ago, Joanne Everist has gained extensive experience in managing staffing requirements for the legal sector.

Working with department heads, Joanne will oversee recruitment, induction and training and development programmes across the firm’s Sheffield, Doncaster and Leeds offices.

An immediate priority for the new HR manager is to recruit an experienced commercial property lawyer and an insolvency paralegal following further growth in these areas.

A further development sees commercial property lawyer, Ellen Osborne, formally joining the practice following her recent qualification.

Paul Trudgill, managing partner, said: “Continuing to attract and retain the right people is essential as we consolidate our core skills and strengths across our corporate, commercial and private client departments. Joanne’s wealth of expertise will be vital for our staff development.”

Richard Smith, partner and head of hlw Keeble Hawson’s commercial property team, added: “Our department continues to be commissioned for wide-ranging deals and we wish Ellen every success in supporting our busy team.”

Sam Paley and Lucy Jones, Chamber International

Two new appointments have been made by overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, which is based in Bradford.

Lucy Jones, a former senior export administrator with a West Yorkshire textile company, joins as export-import services co-ordinator, matching the needs of businesses to Chamber International’s range of assistance, and university graduate, Sam Paley, has been appointed an international trade administrator.

Before working at Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, where she managed very large national and international accounts, Lucy Jones worked in France as owner manager of her own business importing British luxury goods for the retail sector.

Sam Paley, who has a degree in classical civilisations, previously worked in retail. He will be responsible for a wide range of administrative support to the trade procedures team which supports businesses involved in trade worldwide.

Tim Bailey, Chamber International director, said: “We provide extensive support for business which are new to exporting and we’re seeing an increase in demand from this sector.

“These new appointments will make a big difference to our service delivery.”

Nick Woodward, Dow Schofield Watts

Dow Schofield Watts, the independent advisory business, has announced the appointment of Nick Woodward as partner in its new tax advisory arm.

Nick is a specialist in mergers and acquisition tax with significant international business experience.

He joins from the global private equity firm the Gores Group, where he led key transactions and was instrumental in the restructuring of portfolio companies such as German telecoms company Unify and UK bakery and milling business Hovis.

Nick, a Sheffield University alumni, has over 18 years’ experience in tax and finance. He previously worked with Grant Thornton and KPMG, where he advised major names such as Odeon and UCI Cinemas, 3663 and JD Sports.

Leading DSW Tax Advisory, NIck will work alongside other businesses within the group including corporate finance, transaction services and DSW’s private equity firm, PHD Equity Partners.

James Dow, founder of Dow Schofield Watts, said: “Nick’s unique set of skills spanning tax, international business and private equity will complement our existing corporate finance and due diligence offers in the North West and Yorkshire.

“His appointment adds further depth to the team, enabling us to provide a fully comprehensive service and become the advisor of choice for commercial and private equity clients.”

Andrew Gillen, Langleys Solicitors

Langleys Solicitors has appointed Andrew Gillen to its insurance law division.

Andrew joins Langleys Claims Services, the law firm’s pre-litigation claims handling unit, from DAC Beachcroft, Leeds, where he was a senior solicitor in the catastrophic injury team.

Prior to this, he worked in large loss litigation at Weightmans LLP, Leeds.

An associate solicitor, Andrew has more than seven years’ experience in dealing with high value claims for international insurer clients.

David Thompson, managing partner and head of insurance at Langleys, said: “Andrew is an excellent addition to our team.

“His expertise and knowledge will further enhance the advice and high quality service that we provide to our clients.”

Laura Sanderson (pictured left), Wake Smith

Solicitor Laura Sanderson has become the latest recruit to join the commercial property team at Sheffield’s Wake Smith.

Laura joins from Gordons in Leeds where she worked for almost two and a half years, and brings significant experience in retail and landlord and tenant work, advising on a variety of issues from acquisitions and disposals to lease work.

As a commercial property specialist, Laura will work with Wake Smith’s clients on a range of matters from acquisitions and disposals to commercial leases.

Laura graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a law degree in 2009 and completed her LPC at the University of Sheffield in 2010. She then held a trainee role at Bell & Buxton and qualified in 2012 before working in the commercial property and corporate teams.

She then joined Gordons in Leeds in July 2014 and worked as an assistant solicitor in the commercial property team until November 2016.

Paul Gibbon, commercial property director at Wake Smith, said: “Laura joins us at a key time in the development of the commercial property team. Wake Smith’s involvement in commercial property deals across the region and further afield has been one of the key drivers for the company and our team is extremely busy.

“We welcome Laura on board and with her experience and passion for her job, she will no doubt make a valuable addition to the team.”