This week's Yorkshire appointments

Sarah Merrikin, Langleys Solicitors

Langleys Solicitors has appointed Sarah Merrikin, strengthening its medical law team.

Sarah, a chartered legal executive, has joined the team from Chattertons Solicitors and will specialise in clinical negligence.

Langleys has also promoted Layah Sampson from legal administrator to paralegal while Georgina Ravencroft has been promoted to legal administrator.

Andrew Cragg, a partner and head of the medical law team, said: “I am very pleased to welcome our new members of the team and congratulate those who have been promoted.

“Our growing team, along with our recognised medical negligence expertise, means that we can continue to support and deliver services to families in need.”

Leanne Little, Great Newsome

Leanne Little has joined Great Newsome as a trainee brewer after her wedding at the rural East Yorkshire brewery’s shepherds hut in 2017.

Family-owned Great Newsome, which last month won two World Beer Awards, two SIBA Awards and three Great Taste Awards, is an equal opportunities employer, with women playing key roles in the nine-strong team. Leanne, however, is the first female in the brewing room.

Sarah Woosey, Simpson Millar

National law firm Simpson Millar is expanding its public law team with the appointment of partner, education and community care specialist, Sarah Woosey.

Based in Leeds and representing clients across England and Wales, Sarah brings with her experience securing education and wider service provisions for children and young adults with a wide range of special needs and disabilities.

Commenting on her appointment, Greg Cox, Simpson Millar’s CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome Sarah to our established, national public law and education team.

“She is a well-regarded lawyer with a truly impressive track record, and her wealth of experience securing education and wider service provisions for people with special needs will make her a fantastic addition to the firm and a great advocate for new and existing clients based all around the country.”

Chelsea Hardy and Dr Harrison Evans, Nexus

Nexus, the University of Leeds’ new £40m innovation centre, has appointed two members to its team.

Chelsea Hardy joins Nexus as engagement manager. She will be responsible for initial liaison with organisations, matching business needs to the university’s research, facilities and talent.

As collaboration manager, Dr Harrison Evans will provide Nexus members with access to the academic expertise, facilities and talent across the university and will oversee its existing commercial relationships across research and innovation, and the university.

Leigh Edmondson and Mark Flanagan, RFM Group

Leeds-based Integrated property services provider, RFM Group has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Leigh Edmonson as managing director of the construction division, and Mark Flanagan who has been promoted to client services director.

Leigh joins the business from Morgan Sindall and brings with him over 18 years experience in the industry. He will head up RFM Construction Ltd and is tasked with developing and growing the offering which forms part of the Group’s Turnkey service.

Mark Flanagan who has been with the business since its inception, has been promoted and is now responsible for overseeing group sales, business development and all marketing activity.

Ian Flanagan, CEO of RFM Group, said: “Over the last few years, we have experienced a period of expansion and so these new additions to the senior management team are perfectly timed as we move into the next stage of our growth.”

Rob Cobley, Harper James Solicitors

National commercial law firm, Harper James Solicitors has appointed intellectual property and technology partner Rob Cobley, who has joined the firm with immediate effect.

Rob has particular experience working with technology and IP rich businesses - from crowd funded startups through to large multinationals.

He has joined Harper James, which has grown from one partner to five since the start of the year, from Harrison Clark Rickerbys where he was based for nine years as partner and head of Intellectual Property & IT.

Commenting on his new position, Rob said: “I’m delighted to have taken on this new role and to be working with the Harper James team to deliver the expertise and innovative legal service provision to clients that the firm is renowned for.”