This week's Yorkshire appointments

Glenn Jaques and Sabrina Rahman, Lupton Fawcett

Law firm Lupton Fawcett has appointed Glenn Jaques as partner and Sabrina Rahman as solicitor.

Glenn brings more than 25 years of employment law experience, having advised companies on large-scale redundancies and restructures, TUPE and discrimination issues, defending tribunal claims and HR. He also advises directors and senior executives.

Sabrina graduated from the University of Sheffield and qualified as a solicitor this year. She advises employers and employees on contracts, service and settlement agreements, sickness absence management, conduct and capability procedures and discrimination.

Sabrina has acted for clients in manufacturing, education, property, charities and engineering.

James Richardson, managing partner at Lupton Fawcett, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome two excellent additions to our multi award-winning employment law team in Sheffield.

“Glenn is a skilled negotiator and tenacious litigator with a deep understanding of employment law, which he uses in a practical and pragmatic way to help clients achieve their objectives.

“Sabrina has already gained considerable experience while completing her training and is a rising star in her field.”

Rebecca Williamson and Shelian Craig, Clarion

Law firm Clarion has appointed Rebecca Williamson and Shelian Craig as debt recovery executives in its Debt Recovery team.

With over seven years’ experience, Rebecca has worked in the debt recovery practice of a Northern law firm, and handled work for large corporations, banks and institutions. Her track record covers acting for both individuals and commercial clients in over 50 countries, including in the US, Canada and Hong Kong.

Rebecca specialises in assisting companies that are based abroad, offering bespoke advice on a range of matters, from corporate wealth to insolvency.

Having spent nine years working for a Leeds law firm as a debt recovery assistant, Shelian qualified as a specialist paralegal in debt recovery from the Institute of Paralegals in 2009 before taking on the role of debt recovery executive in 2006.

She has experience in commercial debt recovery, assisting clients in a number of sectors ranging from manufacturers, to electrical suppliers, commercial rent arrears and working on behalf of debt collection agencies.

Daniel Carlton, who leads the Debt Recovery team at Clarion, commented: “The practice has been growing steadily over the last few years and we have seen the quality and scale of work coming to us increasing.

“As well as extensive experience in B2B and B2C debt collection, Rebecca’s work with international clients with debts in the UK, adds another dimension to our offering.

“In addition, Shelian knows her trade and can be trusted as a safe pair of hands, further strengthening the team.

Commenting on her appointment, Rebecca said: “Clarion is well-known as a practice that specialises in recovering business to business debt and I am excited to be joining a fast-growing and reputable team, using my skills to expand its services and extend its international reach.

“While I handle many complex and high value cases, I am committed to finding a client-focused resolution that ensures both quality and value, and this fits well with the Clarion approach.”

Shelian added: “I take a commercial approach, while appreciating the importance of trust in any client relationship and this chimes with Clarion’s ethos.

“The team has established a strong reputation in the field, working effectively to help clients recover funds which, in the current difficult economic environment, could be vital to businesses maintaining a healthy cashflow.”

Karl Battersby, North Yorkshire County Council

North Yorkshire County Council has appointed Karl Battersby as corporate director of business and environmental services.

Karl Battersby, who has been a corporate director for 12 years, will take on responsibilities including managing North Yorkshire’s 5,350 miles of highways, the disposal of more than 300,000 tonnes of waste per year and the county’s trading standards team.

Karl was the strategic director for economy and infrastructure at Kirklees Council from 2018, a role which saw him take responsibility for all front line environmental services, planning, regeneration and development functions, the capital programme and all council land and property assets.

Karl commented: “I’m looking forward to encountering a brand new set of challenges in the most beautiful county in the country.

“I want to get a really good feel for the place. I’ve got a local background because I was born in Bradford, so I have a good knowledge of the geography.”

“I’m joining the County Council in what are challenging and unprecedented times. However, we have an excellent team going all-out to support our residents, businesses and communities. Key priorities are supporting business growth, ensuring that we continue to improve the condition of the county’s extensive highways network, and deliver successful projects despite inevitable budget pressures.”

Karl has taken over from David Bowe, who has retired after a decade in the post. North Yorkshire County Council’s Chief Executive Richard Flinton explained: “I am extremely grateful to David Bowe for his professionalism and astute leadership. He has played an integral role in our many successes over the past ten years.

He added: “We are very pleased to be welcoming Karl and I am confident his experience of managing major programmes of change and improvement will be of huge value at a critical time for the county.”

Nazia Afzal and Lisa Molinari, Keebles LLP

Law firm Keebles LLP has made two new appointments to its residential property team.

Nazia Afzal and Lisa Molinari have joined as the company expands its residential department.

Qualified as a chartered legal executive in 2017, Nazia has six years’ experience working in residential property at law firms in Sheffield and Derbyshire. She has returned to the legal industry after a two-year sabbatical working as a professional events photographer and cinematographer.

Nazia commented: “One thing that attracted me to work at Keebles was how much they really care about their clients and how they always come first. The team is friendly and very efficient so I can already see why the firm has a reputation for being a good place to work.

“I’ve been very fortunate because I’ve always worked and trained with the senior partners of all the firms I’ve worked at and complex matters are my forte.

“I’m looking forward to delivering a good service to my clients and making what is known to be a very stressful experience as smooth as possible for them.”

Lisa joins as an associate with almost nine years’ experience in the residential, commercial property and company law sectors.

Lisa explained: “I’m really looking forward to working as part of a team to deliver the best possible service for our clients.

“I got a very good feeling for Keebles straight away – the firm supports a good work-life balance and agile working practices, which is so important to me as I have a young family.

“Keebles is a very forward-thinking firm, and is totally up-to-date with the latest tech. It’s also a very friendly place to be, and it’s easy to see why the company has such a great reputation.”

Bonita Wolfenden, partner and head of residential at Keebles, added: “With continuing demand for our services, Nazia and Lisa have allowed us to increase capacity within the department and have fitted into the team perfectly.

“They are both experienced in their field and always put the client first, which is very important for us as a company. I’m sure they will play a big part in helping the department achieve year on year growth.”

Martin Loxley, Hall Brown Family Law

Hall Brown Family Law has appointed Martin Loxley as consultant.

A legal commentator, lecturer and family law arbitrator, Martin joins after three decades in charge of the family department at Irwin Mitchell.

During his time with Irwin Mitchell, he specialised in resolving complex financial divorce disputes nationwide on behalf of high-profile entrepreneurs, sportsmen and women, academics and members of the judiciary.

Senior partner and co-founder Sam Hall commented: “It’s no exaggeration to say that Martin has been widely acknowledged for some time as one of the most accomplished and influential family lawyers in England and Wales.

“To secure the services of someone like him is testament to the progress which we have made to date as well as a statement of our ambition to take the firm much further. It should also provide great reassurance to our clients that we can provide the kind of experience and knowledge able to assist them no matter what challenges they face.

“We are particularly delighted to have Martin in Sheffield, his home city and an area in which he has already built such a substantial reputation.”

Jamie White, Modo25

Digital marketing and technology provider Modo25 has appointed Jamie White as head of SEO.

With over 11 years’ experience in digital marketing, Jamie brings a range of knowledge to the role.

Jamie most recently worked at Search Laboratory where he started as an SEO account manager before being promoted to head of technical SEO and finally account director. He has also previously worked at Stickyeyes and Coolpink.

On starting his new position, Jamie said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Modo25 family. It’s exciting to be a part of a forward-thinking company with exciting projects. I’m looking forward to heading up the SEO strategy for our clients both current and new.”

John Readman, CEO, added: “We’re incredibly happy to have Jamie joining us as Head of SEO.

“With Jamie on board, we can continue expanding our offering as a digital marketing provider. With his many years of experience, we’re looking forward to strengthening our ongoing support for our clients and their SEO strategies.”

David Lynskey and Joe Perkins, The Banks Group

Property and energy firm The Banks Group has appointed David Lynskey as development surveyor and Joe Perkins as development planner.

David has over ten years’ experience of working in property and renewable energy development roles in both the South East and his native Yorkshire. He has brought forward a number of strategic sites via option and promotion agreements within Yorkshire, and has also worked as a planning manager within the renewable energy sector.

Joe has joined Banks from the planning department at Doncaster Council, where he was senior planning officer, and previously worked as a planning officer in both the development management and spatial policy teams at Wakefield Council.

Rob Ormrod, senior land manager at Banks Property, commented: “The Banks Group already has extensive experience of working right across Yorkshire, and we’re now working towards increasing our footprint around the county.

“Part of this strategy is investing in the right calibre of people, and both David and Joe bring with them experience and knowledge that will be central to helping us realise our growth ambitions in the county.”