Law firm poaches staff from Pinsent Masons, Walker Morris and Addleshaw Goddard; Clarion boosts corporate recovery team; and more

Wrigleys Solicitors has announced a raft of hires joining from Pinsent Masons, Walker Morris and Addleshaw Goddard.

Neil Whitaker is well known in Yorkshire with 30 years experience at Pinsent Masons in a range of property matters including development and mines and minerals.

Donna Radcliffe joins the property team from Walker Morris to advise on a range of commercial property matters, including its specialism of rail property.

Katie Derry strengthens the probate team following her move from Addleshaw Goddard.

Managing partner Paul Nash said: “2017 has been another encouraging year of growth and we are very fortunate at Wrigleys to attract fantastic lawyers who join to pursue the areas of work in which they thrive. Neil, Donna and Katie build on our successful recruitment earlier in the year of pensions lawyer Kate Buckham who joined us from Bond Dickinson, rural property lawyer, Matthew Featherstone, from Stamp Jackson & Procter in Hull and residential property solicitor Rukhsana Shah who moved north from London and joined our Sheffield office.”

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Annette Thomson has joined Clarion in Leeds as an associate solicitor in its corporate recovery and insolvency team.

After completing her articles at a law firm in Johannesburg, she qualified as a barrister in South Africa in 2010 and practiced there for six years before joining Clarion.

She has expertise in contract and insolvency law.

Ryan Millmore, joint managing partner and head of the firm’s corporate recovery and insolvency practice, said: “We’re always keen to bring new talent on board, particularly lawyers who can add a fresh perspective to what we do.  With six years’ experience in insolvency law, Annette is a great fit with the team.

“This year has been a particularly busy year for the practice with growing numbers of clients seeking advice on insolvency, restructuring and turnaround matters and the addition of Annette to the team will further strengthen our offering and enable us to continue to provide excellent service to clients.”

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The Institute of Directors (IoD) has appointed Jon Geldart as its regional chairman for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Geldart is executive director, markets development, for Greater China with business advisor Grant Thornton. He is an expert on China’s impact on the UK economy and has authored two books on doing business with the Chinese.

He succeeds Jonathan Oxley, director of corporate finance at law firm Lupton Fawcett, who takes on a new role heading up the IoD’s strategy on the Northern Powerhouse.

Geldart said: “I am honoured to be accepted as chairman and look forward to working with the IoD team.

“My role is to support our members from all backgrounds, encourage entrepreneurialism and promote responsible business practice and professionalism. The IoD here is to give businesses of all sizes an opportunity to join our powerful policy voice.

“In my job, I am constantly travelling and get a unique perspective on not only Brexit, but also the views of other countries on the British business scene.”

Geldart has been chairman of the IoD’s North Yorkshire branch since summer 2016 and continues in this position.

In his new role, Oxley will work with the three IoD chairmen across the North of England to drive the next stage of the Northern Powerhouse.

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