People: Partner moves from Andrew Jackson to Gordons; New regional head appointed at Allied Irish Bank GB; and more
An employment partner at Hull-headquartered Andrew Jackson Solicitors has joined Yorkshire law firm Gordons.
Mary Walker joins Gordons following eight years at Andrew Jackson. She has more than 20 years’ experience, including being made a partner at Gosschalks at just 28-years-old before becoming the firm’s head of employment.
Well-known in the regional employment law market, Walker specialises in corporate support, high-level recruitment and remuneration packages, respondent-based tribunal work and high-worth employee negotiations. She is also renowned for her skills in dealing with contentious matters, having previously worked as a criminal lawyer, and her experience includes the retail, food, manufacturing, transport and public sectors.
She is highly rated by key legal directories The Legal 500 and Chambers UK. The former describes her as “assiduous in looking after her clients” whilst the latter states she is “technically very strong with a good knowledge of the law”.
Walker said: “Gordons is the ideal firm for me to join. It is renowned for its distinct, straightforward approach to providing advice and for the strength of the client relationships it develops. These are principles that I share.
“Gordons’ employment team is highly capable and ambitious, with an excellent client base across the sectors I am experienced in. My aim is to build upon these firm foundations by continuing to grow our team through winning new work, and further instructions from existing clients.”
Gordons managing partner, Paul Ayre, said: “Mary is an excellent hire for Gordons. She provides commercially effective advice and builds strong relationships. Because of this Mary also brings with her an excellent client following.”
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Allied Irish Bank GB has appointed the new head of its regional business centre covering South Yorkshire and East Midlands.
Andy Cocker, who will be based in Sheffield and Nottingham, joins AIB (GB) with over 30 years in commercial banking, most recently at Lloyds Banking Group, where he was a relationship director working primarily with manufacturing, engineering and general trading businesses in South Yorkshire and North East Derbyshire.
His new role will include supporting companies across the South Yorkshire and East Midlands region, particularly businesses operating in the manufacturing, healthcare, hotels & hospitality and professional practice sectors.
Cocker said: “AIB (GB) has a well-deserved reputation for relationship business banking and a genuine appetite for lending. Those qualities really appeal to me, as does the opportunity to work with an established and respected team covering Sheffield and Nottingham.
“The South Yorkshire and East Midlands region is home to a wide range of successful businesses with plenty of opportunity for further growth. I’m looking forward very much to helping them achieve their ambitions, and to getting to know and work alongside the region’s professionals.”
Tony Kelly, regional director for AIB (GB) in the Midlands and North, added: “I’m thrilled that we have secured Andy to lead the team in South Yorkshire and East Midlands as he brings both a successful track record and wealth of experience as a commercial banker of many years standing. I’m sure that his knowledge and experience in sectors where we have had success in growing our market position will be much valued by our customers.”
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Mazars, the international accounting and advisory firm,has appointed Alex Baskeyfield as a Partner in its Leeds office, alongside promotions to director for financial planner Natalie Wright and employment tax specialist Ian Goodwin.
Baskeyfield joined Mazars in 2005 as an audit trainee and moved into the firm’s corporate finance team in 2008, based in the Leeds office. He has built a strong reputation in the local business community and has been responsible for a number of high profile transactions including the sale of Sewtec to Endless.
Wright is a multiple award-winning financial planner, is a guest writer for MMB Magazine on finance issues affecting working parents, and has been with the firm since 2013. Goodwin joined Mazars in 2017 and leads the employment tax team in the North of England.
Oliver Hoffman, Leeds Office Managing Partner, said: “I am proud to have such talented people at Mazars and it is great to see them flourish with us in Yorkshire. As we continue to grow and make our move later this year into the Leeds City Centre, I look forward to making further announcements about our team’s progression.”
Phil Verity, Mazars Senior Partner, said: “The success of our business is based upon recognising talent and helping our people to develop with opportunities, training and support. These promotions represent the breadth of experience, entrepreneurial outlook and focus on clients to which we all aspire.”
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The Yorkshire Mafia (YM) has further strengthened its team with the appointment of Jessica Coates as Marketing & Events Manager.
With previous experience in marketing, public relations and business development, University of Newcastle graduate, Coates joins YM as the group continues to look at strategic ways that it can evolve and continue to be one of the most respected events companies in the North.
Coates said: “With such an impressive track record, I am looking forward to the challenge that this new role will give me. The group is certainly going through an exciting time at present and I’m pleased that already I have been given the autonomy to make changes that I know will benefit the business.
“When the role became available I knew I had to be a part of this next chapter. I am really looking forward to working with the many businesses that we call partners throughout the region and to establishing even more events and ways of working as I nurture current relationships and build new ones too.”
Founder of the Yorkshire Mafia, Geoff Shepherd, added: “Jessica has the right attitude for the role and has already made a difference here at the YM. It’s not as easy as people think to arrange a year-round schedule of events and a group of more than 22,000 people, but I know that she will be welcomed by all members as she gets herself established in the position.
“The experience that Jessica brings along with her infectious ambition, drive and determination is why she is a brilliant asset to the team. As we plan for future growth and celebrate ten years in business, it is great to be announcing more positive news for the Yorkshire Mafia.”
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Naylor Wintersgill Chartered Accountants in Bradford has added to its growing team with the appointment of two new accountancy trainees.
Dominic Wray and Dylan Mooney joined the firm on 3 September and will be studying for their Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualifications. Dominic joins the firm from Lightcliffe Academy after previously visiting Naylor Wintersgill on a number of occasions for work experience. Dylan has also recently completed his A-levels at Garforth Academy.
The firm, which celebrated its centenary year in 2017, is an approved training office of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and has offered a modern apprenticeship programme in Bradford for over 25 years.
Victoria Wainwright, Managing Director comments, “The accessibility of job opportunities for young people in the local area is really important to us. We have always had a long tradition of developing talent internally and are pleased to welcome Dominic and Dylan to Naylor Wintersgill. As a firm, we are currently supporting 11 team members over 4 different professional qualifications to grow and develop our workforce of the future.”
