This week's Yorkshire appointments

Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, the North Yorkshire and Ryedale-based law firm, has announced the appointment of two new directors; Jess Appleby and Jessica Duffy.

Jessica is based at the firms York office and is head of residential conveyancing. Following a career in the insurance sector, Jessica began her legal career in 2006 and qualified as a solicitor in 2010.

Jessica joined the firm’s residential team in 2015 and was appointed head of the residential property department in May 2016.

Jess Appleby began her legal career in 2003 and she qualified as a solicitor in 2005. Jess joined the Malton office at Crombie Wilkinson in June 2016 and has been a key player in the joining forces of the firm with Ellis Lakin, forming Crombie Wilkinson Ellis Lakin Solicitors, in Pickering in February 2018.

Since March this year, Jess has been permanently based at Pickering with her formal appointment as head of Pickering office coinciding with her appointment as a director.

Duncan Morter, managing director, said: “These appointments are part of the exciting journey our firm is currently navigating as we continue with our strategy of expansion and growth in the region.

“They come after the appointment as directors in November 2017 of Ian Barnard and Belinda-Jane Poulter and our joining forces with Ellis Lakin in February of this year. There are now 15 directors in the firm, after the retirement of Neal Porter, director and head of Selby office, on 30 April 2018.

“Neal’s career with the firm spanned over 27 years and we thank him for everything he has done to get the firm to the position it is in today and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future. Neal hands over the management and development of the Selby office to Darren Norgate, a Director in the firm who has been based at the Selby office for over 21 years.”

Andrew Johnson (left), Gateley Plc

Gateley Plc, the legal business of law-led professional services group Gateley, has appointed a new head of office in Leeds.

Commercial dispute resolution (CDR) partner Andrew Johnson takes over from restructuring partner William Ballmann.

Andrew is a partner in the CDR team with over 15 years’ experience in handling commercial disputes, particularly dealing with issues arising out of corporate transactions, complex projects, trading contracts and property related agreements.

William Ballmann established the Leeds office in January 2012 with just five members of staff plus a trainee. The office now employs 96 staff at its Minerva House location in the centre of the city. This includes 16 partners covering banking and finance, financial disputes and regulation, restructuring, corporate, regulatory, dispute resolution, residential development, employment, construction, and real estate.

William Ballmann said: “I am very proud to have been at the helm of Gateley Plc in Leeds since our launch in 2012 and overseeing our ambitious growth.

“From starting out with just five people plus a trainee six years ago, we now provide a full-service offering to the Yorkshire region and beyond. I’m delighted to be handing over to Andrew who has played a key role in our growth in recent years.”

Andrew Johnson added: “I am very proud and excited to be taking on this new role as head of the Leeds office. Taking over from William is a great honour as he’s done a truly fantastic job at building our team here. He has made a huge contribution to the rapid expansion that we’ve experienced whilst maintaining a great atmosphere and spirit amongst the team”.

“Thanks to his collaborative leadership, our Leeds office is now positioned to advise clients on the growing opportunities in Yorkshire and beyond, and I am very much looking forward to further developing the office and building on the success that we’ve seen these past six years.”

William Ballmann will remain in the business for another two years and remains on the Council of R3, The Association of Business Recovery Professionals. He is also the head of the North Region for the Institute for Turnaround.

Charlotte O’Connor, Clarion

Clarion is continuing to expand its employment team with the appointment of Charlotte O’Connor as an associate.

Charlotte undertook a MLaw (Solicitors LPC Exempting) Degree at Northumbria University before working at Rollits LLP and then as a paralegal at Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP where she trained.

She has now qualified as an associate and joined Clarion.

Sarah Tahamtani, head of Clarion’s employment practice, said: “We have grown to be one of the largest employment teams in the region, but with our client-focussed approach meaning that we are continuing to win new work, we need to carry on investing in talent.

“Charlotte will be a welcome addition to the team. Although newly qualified, she joins us with over three years’ employment law experience, working with a similar client base to our own and handling good quality, high value matters.”

Charlotte commented: “I am absolutely elated to have joined such a friendly, down to earth and forward-thinking firm. Clarion’s approach to client service and building strong relationships fits well with my own and is so refreshing - I am very proud to be able to say I work at Clarion.”

Jameel Amini, Grapple

Grapple, the Leeds-based digital marketing agency, has appointed Jameel Amini as digital strategy director.

Coming from a number of senior roles in London, Jameel most recently worked as strategy director at Amaze, and previously as head of digital strategy at Havas People.

Jameel said: “Once I got to see the energy of digital agencies in Leeds and specifically Grapple, moving back up was a no-brainer.

“There’s more hunger, more ambition and more excitement – our clients at Grapple recognise this too, meaning they trust us to push and challenge them further each time.”

Jameel added: “I knew Grapple are keen on diversity and inclusion, so having the support of the leadership team to be able to champion that in the North is a plus, which hopefully has a knock-on effect to surrounding agencies, clients and partners.”

Steve Henry, group managing director, also commented: “The appointment of Jameel is a really exciting step in the development of our offering. He has a vast amount of experience in strategically driving digital projects for brands in his time working in both London and Manchester.

“We are now really looking forward to him adding his unique experience to our growing portfolio of brands.”

Grant Lister, JM Glendinning Professional Risks

Grant Lister, a professional indemnity insurance expert, has joined Leeds-based PII specialists JM Glendinning Professional Risks as client director.

Part of the Yorkshire-headquartered JM Glendinning group, the professional risks business launched in 2015 and provides specialist broking and claims support to professional services firms across the UK.

Grant brings professional indemnity insurance (PII) expertise spanning more than three decades to the business, and a background of working for industry giants General Accident, Aon and Marsh.

In his new role, he will work alongside managing director Jake Fox to look after existing clients and explore new opportunities for the business.

Grant said: “I’ve specialised in professional indemnity for lawyers for the last 20 years and I enjoy being part of a dynamic and close-knit team. There aren’t many firms outside the big national players specialising purely in PII and doing it incredibly well.

“To me, that’s a compelling offer, and it should be a compelling offer to prospective clients too. I’m really looking forward to joining Jake and the team.”

Jake Fox added: “I’ve known Grant for a number of years and I know that his knowledge and expertise will add huge value to our business.

“The firm is growing quickly, and we’re on target to become a £10m premium income business within five years. Our team has also grown significantly and adding Grant’s experience will help us maintain this growth.”

Kelly Parks and Shetal Gudgeon, Banner Jones

Banner Jones, the Sheffield-based law firm, has strengthened its family law division with appointment of senior solicitor Shetal Gudgeon and the promotion of Kelly Parks to director, who takes on the role of head of family law.

Shetal brings with her 15 years of experience advising on a diverse range of complex family law issues relating to married, unmarried and same sex couples including divorce, financial, children and injunction proceedings.

She joins from Best Solicitors and will be splitting her time between the firm’s Sheffield and Chesterfield-based family law teams.

Her appointment follows the promotion of Kelly Parks’ to director and head of family law; overseeing all issues relating to personal relationships, relationship breakdown, high value financial disputes and child arrangement disputes.

Chris Sellers, director and head of human resources, Chris Sellars, said: “Recognising talent, commitment and dedication is incredibly important at Banner Jones, and so I am delighted to announce Kelly’s promotion to Director and Head of Family Law.

“With 15-years’ specific family law experience which includes over five years at Stowe Family Law, the largest specialist Family Law firm in the UK, Kelly has become integral to the team and the service we provide our clients since joining us in 2017.

“We are also delighted to welcome Shetal who brings with her considerable expertise, further bolstering our ability to meet increased demand.”

Kelly commented: “With increasing scope to be involved in regional, national and international cases I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Family Law team at Banner Jones during a period of growth and expansion.

“Shetal and I were trainee solicitors together 17 years ago and it’s great to be reunited; she is a welcome addition to our established Family Law team and it will be great to work with her again.”

Shetal added: “This is a very exciting opportunity to join an award winning, ambitious law firm with a long-established reputation for excellence.”

Clare Maguire, Counter Context

Counter Context, the Sheffield-based communications and public affairs specialist, has continued appointed a stakeholder and communication professional to the team.

Clare Maguire previously worked at the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce where she delivered stakeholder management, engagement and communications on a major flood defence project.

Clare brings with her a wealth of commercial experience in account management, copy production and stakeholder communications.

The appointment comes after Counter Context celebrated its most successful financial year to date, with turnover exceeding £1.46m.

As an account manager, Clare will be supporting one of Counter Context’s renewable energy clients, the world’s leader in offshore wind, Ørsted.

Clare will also be supporting with stakeholder engagement projects for other developments in and around the Sheffield City Region.

Alexis Krachai, managing director, said: “Counter Context are proud to be different. There is no one else in the region that does what we do and how we do it. We focus on building relationships with our clients and their stakeholders to build trust and understanding in projects and schemes.

“We are passionate about supporting important developments in our city and across the built environment. Clare’s expertise from working within Sheffield Chamber of Commerce will be instrumental in our work. I am certain she will be a real asset to the Counter Context account delivery team.”

Clare commented: “I am delighted to be on board at Counter Context and to have the opportunity to work with such an experienced and dedicated team to help our clients successfully deliver exciting and innovative projects.”

Richard Gregory, Unity Club

Keith Madeley, chairman of the Unity Club, has announced Richard Gregory as the new joint president of the Business Club, based at Cloth Hall Court in Leeds.

Keith said: “I thank Gerald Jennings for all his support from the founding of the Unity Club’s predecessor, Trinity Club Leeds, to the launch of Unity Club last year; he has been a good friend and mentor from the very start.

“I am now delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Gregory who will join Peter Slee, vice chancellor of Leeds Beckett University as joint president”

Gerald Jennings added: “I am delighted that Richard has agreed to become joint president of the Unity Club, a superb coup for the organisation. Richard brings a wealth of experience and is a well-known and respected member of Yorkshire’s business community.

“I have been honoured to have been involved and help the Club over recent years and with Richard’s involvement, alongside Peter Slee as joint president, the Unity Club couldn’t be in better hands for its future growth.”

Keith Madeley continued: “Richard is Honorary Yorkshire Bank Chair and a senior advisor to CYBG Plc. He is a former senior independent director of the bank.

“Yorkshire Bank are also supporting the work of Leeds Beckett’s University Business Centres offering banking and financial service information to early stage and growing businesses in the region.

“Richard has supported relationships between higher education and business for many years in several roles. He is a former chairman of Sheffield Hallam University, Science City, York, and Yorkshire Innovation, the former Science and Industry Council of Yorkshire Forward. He was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to Yorkshire.”

Richard concluded: “I am delighted to support the Unity Club in its initiative to offer high quality meeting space to visiting SMEs in Leeds, and create a valuable networking opportunity and relationship with Leeds Beckett University.

“Yorkshire Bank and the University share the same goals of fostering business growth and innovation, so vital for the future of our regional economy.”