This week's Yorkshire appointments

Squire Patton Boggs has announced the appointment of DWF’s Leeds head of litigation, Jason Blakey, who joins Squire Patton Boggs’ disputes team in Leeds.

Mr. Blakey advises on a wide range of large commercial disputes and pensions litigation. His experience crosses a range of business sectors and includes multi-party and cross-jurisdictional disputes, international arbitrations, mediations and numerous applications for injunctive relief.

Mr. Blakey’s appointment marks his return to the Leeds office of Squire Patton Boggs. A former trainee, he previously spent eight years at the firm.

John Alderton, managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs in Leeds, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jason back to the firm.

“He is an experienced, highly capable litigator, well-known and respected in Yorkshire and beyond. His arrival will add strength to our team and enhance our offering to clients, both locally and internationally.

“Jason’s pensions litigation expertise will fit well with our market-leading pensions practice and he also has considerable experience within the retail sector, which will complement our retail sector group, headed from Leeds by Matthew Lewis.”

Mr. Blakey added: “Squire Patton Boggs has a market-leading Litigation Practice with a reputation for advising on high value, complex, cross-border and high profile cases. I am excited to join such a strong and diverse practice, with a team that shares my commercial approach to dispute resolution and ambitions for future growth.”

Waqar Hussain, Lee Maude and Jacob Mills, Brewster Bye Architects

Three new appointments have been announced at Leeds-based Brewster Bye Architects.

Lee Maude joins as a senior technician, and Waqar Hussain and Jacob Mills as architectural assistants.

Lee has more than 20 years industry experience working within architectural practices in Leeds and Wakefield. He has had involvement with large-scale projects in the industrial, commercial, retail, education, leisure, healthcare and residential sectors.

Waqar has completed his Masters in Architecture at the University of Huddersfield and has over two years’ experience working on commercial and residential projects in the public and private sectors.

Jacob is currently completing an Architecture degree at The University of Sheffield. Jacob is particularly experienced in Computer Aided Design (CAD).

Chris Austin, Brewster Bye’s managing director, said: “Lee’s vast capabilities in such a cross-section of sectors are particular relevant for our business and he will no doubt prove to be a real asset.

“Both Waqar and Jacob are highly-motivated individuals with a passion for design and we will support them as they continue to complete their qualifications to become fully qualified architects.”

The new appointments take Brewster Bye’s team to 25.

Matt Russell, Begbies Traynor

Begbies Traynor, the professional services firm, has promoted Matt Russell to the position of senior manager in its Yorkshire region, with responsibility for supporting its Hull office.

Matt joined Begbies Traynor 11 years ago during which time he has undertaken year-long secondments with both Lloyds Banking Group and with National Australia Bank.

With a BA in Accounting and Finance, Matt has gained a broad range of experience in advisory work, having spent time in Begbies Traynor’s Leeds office, working with advisers and lenders.

Andrew Mackenzie, partner for Begbies Traynor in Yorkshire, said: “Matt has been a stalwart member of the team and has played an important part in helping us to grow our business in Yorkshire.

“In his new position, Matt will also focus on working with our team in Hull as our marina office continues to develop and we promote the full group professional services offering there.”

Matt commented: “This is a great opportunity to build on my role with Begbies Trayor and support the team in Hull as we continue to develop our presence. As I am from the Humber region and still have many friends and family in the city, I am looking forward to returning.”

Begbies Traynor’s Hull team is based in Marina Court, Castle Street.

David Simpson, JLL

Property consultant JLL has appointed healthcare specialist David Simpson to its alternatives team in Leeds.

David graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2010, and specialises in the primary healthcare sector.

David joins as a senior surveyor with a remit to specifically grow JLL’s healthcare business across the north of England.

JLL’s alternatives advisory team in Leeds was established last year to provide property services across a range of alternative asset types including hotels, student housing, healthcare, self-storage, the private rented sector (PRS), affordable housing, car parking and automotive, renewables and data centres.

Harry Hawksby, lead director for JLL’s alternatives team in Leeds, said: “David’s appointment reflects the growing appetite for investment in the alternatives property market that last year witnessed deal activity of £15.7bn.

“This year we are forecasting alternatives will continue to outperform mainstream commercial property.

“David’s experience in primary care will help to enhance our breadth of offering and, by being based in Leeds, it means that JLL now has a truly national platform to respond to the dynamics and demands of the healthcare sector.”

David Simpson added: “This is an exciting opportunity to join the largest specialist healthcare team in the UK with a mandate to develop JLL’s alternatives business at a time of sector growth.

“I am looking forward to working with a market leading team and hope to add to the continued success they have achieved over recent years.”

Mark Lawton, Milners

A Leeds-based law firm has further strengthened its litigation team with the recruitment of Mark Lawton.

Mark joins Milners as a senior solicitor, bringing with him 30 years of specialist expertise acting for contractors, developers, housebuilders and consultants.

His legal CV includes a wide range of names in the industry, including Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley Group, Atkins, Taylor Woodrow Developments, St James’ Homes, St George, Kier, Persimmon, White Young Green, The Co-Op, Bellway, Allenbuild, Charles Church, CLC Group, Irwins, and Stonewest Group.

It also extends to Stone Federation Great Britain, the British Woodworking Federation and the National Federation of Builders.

Giles Ward, Milners’ senior partner and head of litigation, said: “Few lawyers can match Mark’s track record and exclusive focus in this specialism. His rare blend of expertise, industry insight and tactical know-how will be a tremendous asset for new and existing clients.

“We have ambitions to develop our services further in key growth areas and the appointment of a construction law specialist of Mark’s calibre is another major step forward for us as we broaden our talent pool.”

Mark advises on all issues arising out of construction and development operations and projects. He is also a member of the Technology and Construction Court Solicitors Association.

Michael Leighton, Dacre, Son & Hartley

A property professional has been appointed to manage the Guiseley office of Yorkshire estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley.

Michael Leighton joined the firm in 2014 to manage the Keighley office after spending more than 10 years working for other Yorkshire estate agents.

Michael also holds several industry qualifications including a diploma in surveying practice and an honours degree in building surveying.

In his new role, he will head up the Guiseley office’s five-strong team who work across Dacre, Son & Hartley’s sales and lettings divisions.

The office markets a vast range of homes, from smart apartments to large family homes and farmhouses, throughout Guiseley and its surrounding towns and villages including, Carlton, Hawksworth, Esholt, Rawdon, Yeadon and Apperley Bridge.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential sales at Dacre, Son & Hartley, said: “Michael is a well-respected member of our team and enjoyed a successful track-record in our Keighley office, so we’re delighted to offer him this opportunity to manage the office at Guiseley.

“It’s a busy branch, at the centre of a thriving market, and there’s no doubt Michael will continue building on its success and take it to the next level.”

Dr Phill Jones, Emerald Group

Bingley-based Emerald Group has appointed Dr Phill Jones, formerly director of publishing innovation at Digital Science, to its board as chief technology officer (CTO).

Phill will take a strategic lead on Emerald’s delivery of digital solutions to better serve its communities, including the enhancement of the EmeraldInsight.com research platform and creating scalable solutions across the Group - made up of Emerald Publishing, GoodPractice and Towards Maturity - that are end-to-end and market-driven.

A former physicist turned publishing technology professional with research, Phill is also a Scholarly Kitchen ‘Chef’ (a regular contributor to the highly influential scholarly communications blog), a member of the editorial board of Learned Publishing, and serves on a number of industry committees for both the STM association and Society for Scholarly Publishing.

Vicky Williams, CEO of Emerald Publishing, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Phill to the team. As Emerald seeks to evolve its offer and ensure continued market relevance, our digital strategy is at the heart of both our operations and our innovation.

“Phill has all the experience, skills, leadership qualities and vision to help Emerald deliver digital solutions that chime well with our communities’ needs, and increase the impact of the research we publish.”

Phill Jones said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Emerald at what is an incredibly exciting time. I’m tremendously excited to be working with this award winning team, as together, we build on 50 years of service to the community and continue to expand our role in helping research to be communicated.”

“As a Group, we will take Emerald’s digital solutions and platforms to the next level, enabling research to become easier to discover, access, and apply. Through digital innovation, we will help research deliver even greater impact.”