This week's Yorkshire appointments

Leeds law firm Clarion has announced the promotion of four professionals with John Mackle rising to the position of legal director and Gina Rhodes, Sue Fox and Dan Carlton becoming senior associates.

John Mackle joined Clarion in 1999, being promoted to senior associate in the firm’s dispute resolution and litigation practice in 2001.

He acts on a wide variety of commercial disputes most notably within contract disputes, contentious intellectual property matters, professional negligence claims and commercial property litigation. With experience and market knowledge across many different sectors from manufacturing to IT and sport.

In addition, Gina Rhodes, Sue Fox and Dan Carlton have been promoted from associate to senior associate positions.

Having joined Clarion two years ago, Gina has a broad range of experience in commercial property matters with particular expertise in landlord and tenant matters, acquisitions, disposals and real estate finance.

She also works closely with the firm’s corporate team in relation to the acquisition and disposal of companies with properties or property portfolios.

Sue has worked as a legal costs professional for over 20 years and heads Clarion’s costs management service having moved to the firm in 2014 with an impressive track record of working for a number of international law firms.

Finally, Dan, who leads Clarion’s debt recovery team, has worked in this field for a number of years, helping clients find better solutions for credit control and debt recovery problems. He regularly advises clients about ways of making their internal processes more efficient and cost effective, including reviewing their systems and providing complimentary training.

Ryan Millmore, joint managing partner at Clarion, commented: “These four people are talented professionals who regularly go the extra mile for their clients and for the firm.

“John is recognised for his strategic importance to the business in delivering our professional indemnity and regulatory expertise while Gina has an exceptional amount of property experience and technical strength.

“Sue has become an integral part of our successful costs team, heading up the costs budgeting specialism; and Dan has helped build our debt recovery department over the last seven years, providing quality work and supporting many of the firm’s wider client base. We appreciate their hard work, technical knowledge and loyalty to the firm.”

Matthew Howarth (pictured right), Shoosmiths

The Leeds office of national law firm Shoosmiths has announced the the appointment of commercial litigator Matthew Howarth as partner to head up the commercial litigation practice in Leeds.

Matthew joins from Gordons LLP, where he spent more than 14 years and led the firm’s 27-strong commercial litigation department for eight years, and was also a member of Gordons’ management board.

Matthew has vast experience in acting for banks on large scale professional negligence recovery claims involving multiple claims against solicitors and valuers. He also acted in one of the first shareholder action claims against a PLC regarding a £200m Rights Issue, representing one of the defendant directors.

He has advised companies on confidential information claims, breaches of warranty disputes and shareholder actions including securing and defending injunctive relief and acting as a court appointed supervising solicitor on search orders.

He has acted for pension fund trustees, and pension scheme administrators in relation to alleged breaches of duty and is a member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers.

Matthew also has substantial experience in judicial review claims acting for PLCs and also private individuals, most notably acting for clients challenging Natural England on decisions relating to land management and EU regulations, and acted for the descendants of King Richard III in the challenge over where his remains should be buried.

Paul Stokey, head of Shoosmiths in Leeds, said: “I am delighted to welcome Matthew, who has an excellent reputation as a first class litigator both in the Yorkshire market and nationally.

“I look forward to working with him as we continue to expand by attracting the most talented and ambitious lawyers to the firm and building a Northern centre of excellence for legal advice here.”

Shoosmiths is a national law firm with a network of 12 offices in the UK. It announced its expansion into Leeds in 2016 and will move into Bruntwood’s landmark Platform redevelopment later this year, where it will occupy a full floor.

Matthew Penrose, Ben Cooper, Tom Bell, Dan Birkinshaw, PPH Commercial

PPH Commercial, the Yorkshire commercial property agent, has announced four new senior promotions within its Hull office team.

Ben Cooper has become a divisional director, and Dan Birkinshaw, Tom Bell and Matthew Penrose have been appointed associate directors.

Ben has spent over 10 years with PPH, all in the company’s business space team dealing with sales and lettings of offices and industrial space. He qualified as a RICS chartered surveyor a year after joining the company.

Dan, a member of the property management team, joined PPH 11 years ago and became a chartered surveyor in 2014.

Tom, also from the property management team, joined PPH nine years ago and gained chartered surveyor status four years ago.

Matthew, who is in the retail team, has spent nine years with PPH and became a chartered surveyor three years ago.

Ben Medhurst, PPH director, said: “We are delighted to be able to promote these members of our team. It’s a reward for their hard work, success and development within the company.

“All four of them started as graduate surveyors and became professionally qualified with us. We look forward to their further development within the organisation.”

Pauline Munro and Marc Warren, Gateley Plc

National law firm Gateley Plc has announced the promotion of two lawyers in its Leeds office.

The promotions see Pauline Munro in the regulatory team made partner and Marc Warren in the real estate team made senior associate.

William Ballmann, head of Gateley Plc’s Leeds office, commented: “After an incredibly busy year, with a number of new professional staff joining us, it is also great to announce that two senior lawyers have been promoted in our Leeds office.

“Each individual has contributed to the success of the firm and their promotion is very much deserved.”

Over the last five years, the Leeds team has grown rapidly, starting with just a team of five to now a team with over 53 members of staff

These promotions mark the end of a busy financial year for Gateley Plc, in which the firm has hired 10 new partners.

Michelle Futter, The Floow

The Floow, the Sheffield-based telematics firm, has appointed human resources expert Michelle Futter to take on the role of HR leader.

An experienced HR professional and chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, Michelle has more than 12 years’ HR experience having worked with a wide range of companies including Odeon & UCI Cinemas, Halfords, Marks & Spencer and Focus DIY.

The move sees her join The Floow’s team at its Sheffield headquarters where she will be responsible for helping to devise HR strategies, developing the existing team’s leadership capabilities, and defining the firm’s culture.

Michelle said: “Having grown at pace since its foundation in 2012 – from an initial team of just three to more than 70 at the end of the last financial year – it is increasingly important that considered policies and HR processes are in place as the company goes from strength to strength.

“The firm has an innovative and forward thinking approach to recruitment and people management, as well as an impassioned commitment to nurturing and developing its team which it considers to be fundamental to its success, and I am delighted to be joining at this time.”

The appointment comes as The Floow launches a major recruitment drive to double its technical workforce and fill a number of administrative and creative roles.

David James, chief operations officer at The Floow, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Michelle to the team in her capacity as HR Leader.

“As a business we continue to strive to attract talented individuals that are committed to helping us grow and expand our operations, and as we embark on yet another period of rapid growth – recruiting upwards of 70 candidates with a diverse mix of skills including technical capabilities, marketing expertise and administrative experience – Michelle’s experience will be instrumental in ensuring that we reach our goals.”

Laura Turner, Legatus Law

Legatus Law, the legal firm with offices in Leeds and London, has announced the appointment of commercial litigator Laura Turner.

Laura will join the team in Yorkshire to support the growing portfolio of clients at the practice.

Having previously held positions at DWF LLP and Genus Law, Laura will use the skills she has developed over recent years to add further capacity to the firm.

Laura commented: “I am very excited to have joined Legatus Law and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity the firm has given me.

“Legatus Law is very much a company that invests in its people and I look forward to continuing my professional development within the commercial litigation team here.”

Rashmi Dubé, founding director of Legatus Law, added: “Laura’s appointment as a Commercial Litigation Solicitor shows our commitment to growing the experience and expertise we have within the firm to support existing and new clients.”

Nicola Jefferson, Avant Homes

Yorkshire housebuilder Avant Homes has announced the appointment of a new area sales manager.

Nicola Jefferson brings 17 years’ experience within the housebuilding sector to her new position, where she is responsible for managing the sales team across a number of developments in the region.

Nicola’s role will see her take specific responsibility for Avant Homes’ developments at Chevin Park, in Menston, West Wood Fields in Apperley Bridge, Sandhill Croft in Idle and Godwin Vale in Stamford Bridge, near York.

Steve Rider, sales director at Avant Homes Yorkshire, said: “Nicola has a great deal of experience in the housebuilding industry and this will help to further enhance the reputation of Avant Homes in Yorkshire.

“We are delighted to welcome her into the team as a new area sales manager.”

Avant Homes Yorkshire currently has 14 developments in its portfolio from Godwin Vale in Stamford Bridge, York, to Melton View in Mexborough.

Based in Wakefield, Avant Homes Yorkshire is an operating company of the Avant Homes group.

Amanda Hughes, Mills & Reeve

The Leeds office of law firm Mills & Reeve has appointed Amanda Hughes to its corporate team.

Amanda has joined as an associate from the Leeds office of Gordons where she was a solicitor.

Amanda will advise on the full spectrum of corporate transaction including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, disposals and re-structuring.

Partner Paul Johnson, who leads the corporate team in Leeds, said: “It is an extremely busy time for the corporate team and we have a very healthy deal flow with a number of completions due over the coming weeks.

“I’m delighted to welcome Amanda who will be a great addition to our growing team.”

Fraser Irvine, ABL Business Ltd

ABL Business Ltd, the West Yorkshire-based business support consultancy, has appointed Fraser Irvine as an appointed representative to cover North Yorkshire.

The company offers commercial finance and marketing support to SMEs,

Based in Harrogate, Fraser will be operating across the area, offering a full mix of commercial finance services. He will assist SMEs in raising the funds they need to trade, grow or stabilise their business, using all the funding lines and capabilities of ABL Business.

It marks the third recent growth for the Cleckheaton-based company, who recently set up a new office in Scotland with two representatives just over a year ago and expanded into the North East region in March this year.

Fraser is an experienced independent commercial finance broker and joins the company after a long career in financing businesses under his belt.

Fraser has worked with new start businesses, as well as more established companies, arranging funding facilities to suit individual needs. His interest in business finance has also enabled him to gain experience in the Management Buy-out, Management Buy-in and transactional market as a whole.

ABL Business Ltd and their appointed representatives have access to over 70 funders, enabling them to find an appropriate solution, no matter what a client’s financial requirements may be.

Andy Redman, ABL Business director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Fraser to the team. He has a wealth of experience, which he brings with him from the financial sector, and in business too.

“Fraser, with his connections and knowledge, will be a real asset to ABL Business and to companies across North Yorkshire.

“His appointment has enabled us to expand our reach into yet another area and help even more businesses find funding packages that suit their specific needs”.