This week's Yorkshire appointments

Law firm Walker Morris has confirmed that Rob Aberdein has joined as a partner in its Banking Litigation Group.

Rob will strengthen the firm’s offering to financial services clients and help to build on experience for this practice group across the whole of the UK.

Rob was recently ‘triple ranked’ in The Legal 500 for Debt Recovery and Commercial Litigation, with Top Tier Ranking for Debt Recovery in Scotland.

He said: “I am delighted to be joining Walker Morris as a Partner. They are a firm I have long admired and the opportunity to help them build their financial services business was impossible to turn down.”

Andrew Beck, head of Banking Litigation Partner, added: “Rob has built up both an impressive client base and a business that is wholly compatible with ours. His enthusiasm and skill set will help the team at Walker Morris continue to develop our successful offering and will allow Walker Morris to offer UK-wide legal services to our financial services clients.”

Louise Power, banking litigation partner at Walker Morris, commented: “As a firm we service clients on a national and international basis from our base in Leeds.

“Having someone of Rob’s calibre and renowned reputation within the Scottish market join our team is a fantastic enhancement to our offering for our financial services clients.”

Debbie Gibbons, Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP

Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP announces that its private client practice has appointed a specialist family lawyer.

Debbie Gibbons, the newest member to join Andrew Jackson’s family team, brings over a decade of family experience to the firm and particular expertise in helping couples to resolve financial issues following separation and divorce.

Richard Hoare, partner and head of private client services at Andrew Jackson, said: “Debbie’s appointment comes as we continue to grow the bespoke legal services that we offer to our private clients, and follows the recent appointments of four other private client lawyers to our rapidly expanding team. Debbie will be an excellent addition.”

“We are very proud that our family team continues to be top ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK, the leading industry guides to the UK’s best law firms, as their independent research is based largely on client feedback.”

Simona Zvingilaite, Hywel Morgan and Jennifer Lee, LCF Law

Three new commercial property professionals have been appointed within Yorkshire law firm LCF Law’s specialist commercial property team.

Hywel Morgan joins from law firm Squire Patton Boggs, where he worked as a real estate solicitor.

He trained at Addleshaw Goddard in Leeds and has acted for large corporate firms as well as smaller SMEs and private individuals providing landlord, tenant and finance legal advice and corporate support.

He is also experienced at dealing with acquisitions, disposals and development work. Hywel is based in LCF Law’s Bradford office.

Solicitor Simona Zvingilaite joins the Leeds office of LCF Law from Schofield Sweeney. Originally from Lithuania, Simona has experience of dealing with a range of landlord and tenant issues for commercial landlords and tenants. She also has worked on commercial property acquisitions on behalf of Pension funds.

Jennifer Lee is a former trainee who joined LCF Law three years ago to work in the property team. She was awarded a training contract in 2015 and recently qualified. She will be based in the Bradford office.

Paul Anderson, head of LCF Law’s commercial property department, said: “Our department has a solid reputation for always providing highly tailored advice.

“We are experienced across all areas of property law including managing commercial property portfolios, advising developers on potential residential and commercial projects, assisting charities and pension funds with property estates or investments, and advising commercial leaseholders and tenants.

“These new appointments reflect an increase in work upon increased activity in the property market from our existing clients and some exciting new clients wins.

“Hywel, Simona and Jennifer are welcome additions to our ever expanding department, they will add their own personalities and experience to our existing team, and help us to continue to deliver legal services that meet and exceed our client expectations.”

Louise Walker, Weightmans

National law firm Weightmans continues to expand its private client presence in the UK with the appointment of a family law expert and launch of a new team to provide family law services across Yorkshire.

Louise Walker joins the firm as a consultant and heads up the newly launched family team in the firm’s Leeds office, based at Westgate Point in the city.

After training in London and setting up a family law department in Hertfordshire by her mid-twenties, Louise went on to work at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds where she launched and developed a family law team as partner and head of family law Leeds.

Louise was also a partner at Jones Myers, where she continued work with high net worth individuals and business owners.

Louise has over 25 years’ experience in the field, with a particular specialism in the negotiation of the financial aspects of relationship breakdown, handling matters relating to businesses, on and off shore trusts, pensions and other assets. She advises and negotiates on divorce, pre and post-nuptial agreements and other family law issues.

She has particular experience with the needs of individuals in the professional, business, healthcare and retail industries.

At Weightmans, Louise will advise any private clients with family law and relationship breakdown requirements as well as those sitting within the firm’s Owner Managed Business segment.

Louise commented: “Weightmans is a business with a commercial approach and a constant focus on the client and their requirements and it is great to be working at a firm that fits my ethos and ambition so closely.

“I look forward to developing the team here and welcoming clients to our Leeds base for all of their private family matters.”

Carole Atkinson, head of private client and partner, said: “This is a fantastic development both for our Leeds offering and the wider national family and private client teams.

“Louise is a very well-respected lawyer with a wealth of experience and knowledge and we are delighted to bring these expert family law services to our clients in the Yorkshire area.”

Hannah Richardson, Association of Women in Property (WiP)

The Association of Women in Property (WiP) has announced its new Yorkshire and North East branch chairman.

Hannah Richardson, associate: chartered town planner at Spawforths, Leeds, takes on the role.

Hannah, who has been a member of WiP for five years, has over 17 years of professional experience in the property industry, working within both the public and private sectors.

Hannah joined Spawforths in 2007 and provides professional advice to a wide range of developers, housebuilders, landowners, and commercial clients.

Her specialisms include project management of significant major development schemes, in addition to the preparation, submission and negotiation of planning applications, appeals and environmental statements.

Hannah has been responsible for reigniting WiP Members’ Breakfast Forums in the region, throughout 2017, which have been a great success, providing members with the opportunity to meet regularly and to discuss and debate current property issues.

Dave Rolinson, chairman of Spawforths, the largest dedicated planning and masterplanning consultancy in Yorkshire, commented: “I am delighted that Hannah has been appointed as Yorkshire and North East Chairman for Women in Property.

“Spawforths is proud to support Hannah in this important role in supporting the careers of women in the property industry throughout the region.

“Within our business, we are committed to a policy of treating all of our employees equally, and aim to provide a working environment and culture, which recognise and value difference, by bringing together people with different backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and skill sets.”

Campbell Carruth, The Parklane Group

The Parklane Group, the Leeds-based property and leisure experts, has appointed Campbell Carruth as its new head of developments.

Bringing more than two decades of experience to the role, Campbell has a background in senior management including being head of property for the Humber area for Associated British Ports and a director at both Harworth Group PLC and Clugston Estates.

He was part of the executive team that turned around the UK Coal mining land and income portfolio leading to a IPO and the creation of Harworth Group PLC.

In his new role, Campbell will take control of the development and property pipeline for The Parklane Group and manage the land and property aspects of the Company’s growth strategy.

Naveen Ahmed, managing director of the Parklane Group, said: “Campbell is a fantastic addition to the Parklane senior management team, and we look forward to working with him.

“He brings years of experience in the industry and an infectious enthusiasm, which he will be using to help create an effective platform from which to meet our ambitious growth aspirations.”

Campbell’s role will include taking the IconInc brand and offering forward, expanding its footprint across the UK with the aim of establishing a presence in all of the ‘red brick university’ cities across the country.

Greg Willmott, Yorkshire Building Society Group

Yorkshire Building Society Group has announced the appointment of Greg Willmott as chief strategy and digital officer, subject to regulatory approval.

Mr Willmott has 20 years’ experience in corporate strategy and planning, including senior roles at Zurich Insurance, Aviva, KPMG and Barclays.

When he joins the Society in January, Mr Willmott will be responsible for driving forward the Group’s business strategy and digital agenda.

Mike Regnier, Yorkshire Building Society’s chief executive, said: “It is vital we have clear leadership for the Group’s strategic and digital developments so I am delighted to announce Greg’s appointment to this newly created role.

“His extensive experience in strategic planning and digital financial services, combined with his firm belief in mutual values, made him a very strong candidate. I have every confidence Greg will excel in this vital role for the Society.”

Mr Willmott said: “This is a very exciting time to be joining Yorkshire Building Society. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues and the senior executive team to help shape and lead strategic planning and digital propositions for this well-respected mutual.”