This week's Yorkshire appointments

Clarion has expanded its corporate practice with the appointment of Hitesh Tailor as legal director, resulting in a 12-strong specialist corporate team.

Hitesh joins from the Leeds office of international law firm DLA Piper, where he spent 12 years advising blue chip companies on a number of high profile transactions.

Hitesh has experience providing advice on a wide range of corporate matters including domestic and international mergers and acquisitions (share deals, business deals and auctions), private equity transactions, joint ventures, shareholder arrangements and group reorganisations.

Hitesh has worked across a number of sectors and has particular knowledge of digital media, retail, packaging and hospitality and leisure.

Richard Moran, senior partner and head of Clarion’s corporate team, said: “Hitesh is a great lawyer who will further boost the size and experience of the Clarion corporate team.

“With our strong reputation for getting deals done, we’ve benefitted from the buoyant environment for mergers and acquisitions and have been particularly busy in 2018 – we were the most active deals adviser in Yorkshire in Q1 according to Experian MarketIQ and Hitesh’s appointment will help ensure that we continue to deliver for our clients.

“Hitesh brings a wealth of experience in private equity as well as M&A, and we’re pleased that he sees his future with Clarion.”

Hitesh commented: “Clarion is known as a proactive, dynamic firm working with fast growing businesses and corporates, and is known for its ability to deliver large, complex transactions. I am really looking forward to being part of such a well-regarded and commercially-savvy team.”

Matthew Howarth, Shoosmiths

Commercial litigation lawyer, Matthew Howarth has been announced as the new head of office for Shoosmiths Leeds, taking up the reins from Paul Stokey who has been appointed to lead the firm’s national employment team.

Matthew, who currently heads up Shoosmiths’ commercial litigation department in Leeds, will continue to pursue the firm’s growth strategy in the Yorkshire region.

Since its launch in December 2016, Shoosmiths’ Leeds office has moved into new workspace at Platform in the city centre and recently agreed to take an additional floor at the building.

Paul Stokey, who also heads up the Leeds employment team, is stepping up to become Shoosmiths’ national department head for employment, taking over from previous incumbent Kevin McCavish.

As the new head of office for Shoosmiths Leeds, Matthew Howarth brings a wealth of legal expertise and experience.

Described by the Legal 500 as ‘disarmingly good’, and top ranked in Band 1 by Chambers and Partners, Matthew advises clients on a broad range of commercial disputes including shareholder and warranty claims, professional negligence, contractual disputes, defamation and financial services claims and pensions disputes.

He has executed and defended search and seizure orders for clients, and acted as a court appointed supervising solicitor on the execution of such orders.

Matthew, who was head of litigation at Gordons in Leeds prior to joining Shoosmiths, also has experience in Judicial Review claims, most notably acting for the Plantagenet Alliance, descendants of King Richard III in their challenge over the burial of his remains located in Leicester.

Claire Rowe, chief executive of Shoosmiths, said: “The success of the Leeds office is testament to Paul Stokey’s work, support and commitment and we know he will be equally effective in his new role.

“I am delighted that Matthew has agreed to take over leadership of the Leeds team and I look forward to working with him to grow the Leeds office even further in terms of both the strength and depth of our teams in this location and our brand and reputation in the local market.”

David Wright, Mercia Fund Managers

Mercia Fund Managers has expanded its team in Yorkshire and the Humber with the appointment of David Wright as Investment Manager.

David will be one of the nine-strong team providing local businesses with loans of £100,000 to £750,000 from NPIF - Mercia Debt Finance, which is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and is managed by Mercia Fund Managers.

David has experience in banking and finance, having spent almost 30 years with Yorkshire Bank and the past six years as a commercial finance broker sourcing funding for businesses and property developers.

Working alongside Jonathan Craig, David will be based in Mercia’s Leeds office, focusing on the City Region, in particular the Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale area. He will also work closely with the Growth Hub and its team of business advisers.

Paul Taberner, Fund Manager for NPIF - Mercia Debt Finance, said: “David has strong connections within the local business community and a wealth of experience on both sides of the ‘fence’ - working on behalf of a bank and for businesses seeking funding.

“He is ideally suited to join the NPIF - Mercia Debt Finance team, which helps businesses to access finance for growth and has provided over £8.3million to Yorkshire and Humber firms since its inception in February last year.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the NPIF oversight board, added: “The Leeds City Region economy, worth £66.5 billion and the largest city region outside London and the South East, is home to 122,000 businesses and a burgeoning start-up community, which brings huge economic benefits to the North and the UK’s competitiveness.

“The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, alongside other support such as the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) business growth service, is paying dividends across the region with increased growth and high quality jobs.”

Kathryn Moorhouse and Hannah Boynes, Lupton Fawcett

Lupton Fawcett has strengthened its employment department further with the addition of two new solicitors to the team.

Kathryn Moorhouse and Hannah Boynes have joined the Yorkshire law firm and will be providing advice to employers and employees on a variety of employment matters including; discrimination claims, redundancy, unfair dismissal, settlement agreements and contracts of employment.

Kathryn Moorhouse regularly assists in advising on the employment aspects of corporate deals including MBOs, company acquisitions, disposals and the TUPE aspects of asset sales and purchases.

She has acted for a wide range of clients in various sectors including textiles, manufacturing, education and the motor industry.

Hannah Boynes’s particular area of expertise is representing employers in employment tribunals, conducting both preliminary and final hearings.

She also delivers training on a wide variety of employment subjects and will be a valuable addition to the nine members of Lupton Fawcett who are ILM accredited trainers.

Andy Gilchrist, head of the employment law department at Lupton Fawcett, said: “We have built an excellent reputation for providing first class legal advice and assistance on the full range of employment issues, which was recognised by the Legal 500 UK Regional Team of the Year award.

“We are therefore delighted to strengthen the department further by welcoming both Kathryn and Hannah to the team as demand for our services continues to grow.”

John Burnett (left), Ison Harrison

A new partner has joined the Huddersfield office of Ison Harrison.

John Burnett joins the firm from Schofield Sweeney where he was a director on the dispute resolution team for nearly two years. Prior to this he was head of litigation at Armitage Sykes Solicitors.

John has gained 20 years’ experience as a civil and commercial litigation lawyer after qualifying in 1997. He has particular expertise in the areas of contentious probate, partnership disputes and high end consumer disputes.

In his new role at Ison Harrison, John will be responsible for a wide variety of litigation cases.

John commented: “It feels great to have joined Ison Harrison in Huddersfield at such a key time. Since the firm first established its presence in the town in January 2017, the business has gone from strength to strength representing clients both regionally and nationally.

“I’m relishing the challenge of adding to this ongoing success by putting my litigation experience to positive use for new and existing clients and helping to grow the firm’s outstanding reputation.”

James Smith, partner and branch manager at the Huddersfield office, added: “As a progressive law firm, Ison Harrison is committed to recruiting the very best legal professionals. Ensuring clients have the greatest access to legal expertise is a key objective for us as a team and we’re delighted to welcome John as a partner.

“Over 20 years of case experience and commercial litigation knowledge will be a huge boost to the comprehensive service offering in Huddersfield. John’s appointment will be a major asset to the firm as it moves forward with its growth strategy.”