People: Four promotions at Gateley; RSM announce director moves; and more

Law-led professional services group, Gateley, has announced the promotion of four people in its Leeds office.

The promotions span its construction, residential development, and commercial dispute resolution teams.

John Kiff (residential development) has been made partner and Peter Barr (commercial dispute resolution) has been promoted to senior associate.

Gemma Irving (construction) and Emma Taylor (residential development) have been promoted to associate.

Andrew Johnson, commercial dispute resolution partner and head of Gateley’s Leeds office, said: “After another busy year in which we have seen many new appointments, I am delighted to announce that four lawyers have been promoted in our Leeds office. Every individual has contributed to the growth of the business and their promotions are very much deserved.”

These promotions mark the end of a busy financial year for Gateley, in which the firm expanded its Employment offering with the appointment of two new partners in Leeds. Furthermore, the firm launched new service line, Global Mobility, and most recently announced its acquisition of land and property law firm, GCL solicitors, resulting in the further expansion of the Residential Development team and strengthening Gateley’s position in the sector nationally.

The Leeds office has grown rapidly since opening in January 2012 and now employs 98 staff at its Minerva House location in the heart of the city.

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Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has appointed Andy Nalliah as a new director in the personal insolvency practice in Hull.

Nalliah is a prominent insolvency practitioner with over nine years’ experience acting for distressed mid-market, owner managed businesses and individuals. He now specialises in formal insolvency planning including advising individuals and partnerships and acting as a Trustee in bankruptcy.

He has relocated from RSM’s restructuring team in the East Midlands to work alongside Alec Pillmoor to support a growing number of personal insolvency clients and help to grow the insolvency offering within the North and nationally.

Andy Capes, office managing partner at RSM in Hull, said: “This is the second senior hire in our restructuring practice in as many months, which highlights the success of our restructuring practice and our commitment to the region, whilst reaffirming our position as the go-to firm for individuals and businesses in distress.”

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Addleshaw Goddard has announced the recruitment of its fourth cohort of Legal Apprentices to join its Transaction Services Team (TST) in its Leeds office.

The Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship, delivered in conjunction with BPP Law School, also incorporates the equivalent of a first year of an undergraduate law degree, and is a two year programme aimed at school leavers wishing to pursue a career in law but who do not wish to go to university full time.

Successful applicants will gain quality work experience within the TST as a Paralegal Apprentice and will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide-range of work across practice areas.

Upon completion, the apprentices will be promoted to Paralegals and can continue with further study, including the option to progress on to the Solicitor Apprenticeship scheme which offers ambitious individuals an alternative route to becoming fully qualified solicitors.

Mike Potter, head of the transaction services team, said: “It’s surprising to see the rates of apprenticeships in the UK falling. Our previous apprenticeship schemes have been a huge success, enabling us to recruit talented individuals who, as well as being bright, enthusiastic and hardworking, bring something different to the firm.

“We are committed to redesigning the way legal work is done and are passionate about providing new and innovative approaches to attracting and developing great people and we see apprenticeships as one way of delivering against this goal.”

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Life sciences firm Avacta has appointed a new chairman.

Dr Eliot Forster replaces Trevor Nichols, who has acted as chairman of the board since January 2014.

Nichols will remain on the board as a non-executive director.

Forster brings more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, most recently leading Immunocore as chief executive to become a world-leading immuno-oncology biotech, raising over £230m in equity and non-dilutive funding as well as securing partnerships with AstraZeneca and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Alastair Smith, chief executive of Wetherby-based Avacta Group, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Dr Forster is joining Avacta. We have an exciting opportunity to build a world-leading and highly valuable biotech based on the Affimer platform. Eliot’s considerable experience, expertise and network will make a material difference to achieving that goal and to delivering maximum value to shareholders.

“I would like to thank Dr Nichols for his hard work and support as chairman over the past few years. We are very pleased that he will remain on the board as non-executive director.”

 

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