People: Law firm announces raft of partner promotions; Lloyds Bank welcomes new business development director; and more

Law firm Ison Harrison has promoted six lawyers to partner across its network of Yorkshire offices.

The six promoted are Debbie Wilkinson, Adrian Barker, Kara Frith, Daniel Holah, Sarah Laughey and Chris Brierley.

Wilkinson joined Ison Harrison as a trainee solicitor in September 2005 before becoming a first-class litigator with responsibility for assisting in the management of the commercial litigation and commercial debt recovery teams.

Barker joined the firm 19 years ago as IT assistant and subsequently progressed to take on responsibility for managing the IT department for the entire firm and heading up its dedicated support team.

As head of the Ison Harrison’s criminal law department, Frith has been the lead solicitor in a number of murder trials and is recognised as one of the best criminal defence lawyers in the region.

Holah is a residential and commercial property specialist. Having joined Ison Harrison in 2014, he worked in both the Leeds city centre and Ilkley offices before being appointed manager of the firm’s Pudsey branch in January 2017.

Laughey heads up the firm’s family law department across the three Ison Harrison Wharfedale branches of Ilkley, Otley and Guiseley and has more than ten years’ experience as a family solicitor. Since 2012, she has been a resolution accredited specialist covering domestic violence and private children law work.

Heading up the firm’s newest office in York, Brierley joined the firm having moved to the region to strengthen the firm’s residential property team. Brierley is a property solicitor with over 10 years’ experience in all aspects of residential conveyancing.

Jonathan Wearing, managing partner, said: “This is the best possible way to start the new year. I’m very happy to be announcing so many well deserved partner promotions. Their individual and collective contributions to the firm cannot be underestimated.

“As a progressive law firm, Ison Harrison is committed to recruiting and retaining the very best legal professionals. Ensuring clients have the greatest access to legal expertise is a key objective for us as a team and we’re delighted to have kicked-off 2019 by adding six new partners to our team.”

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Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has made a new senior appointment in its Leeds office to support commercial banking customers across Yorkshire.

The bank has appointed Bridie Robinson as business development director as part of the launch of a new business development team across the North.

Robinson joins the team from corporate finance consultancy Sentio Partners, and brings with her 15 years’ experience providing advice to firms in Yorkshire and the North East.

The launch of the new pan-northern business development team forms part of Lloyds Bank’s Helping Britain Prosper strategy, with Sara Sell and Christopher Yau also joining the team as business development directors in the North West. The team will be led by regional director Jim Sparling.

The Commercial Banking team’s SME support in the North of England will be led together by Kelly Green and Martyn Kendrick. Meanwhile, Glenn Bemment will oversee mid-corporate and Steve Harris will lead large-corporate.

Robinson will be based in Lloyds’ Lovell Park office, which has also become the bank’s largest base for business support outside of London following a number of role relocations in the Leeds city region.

Steve Harris, Head of Large Corporates (North) at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Bridie’s appointment and the creation of the new business development team in Yorkshire will really enhance our service for large businesses.

“These organisations are an important source of jobs and are major contributors to both the local and national economy. Being by the side of these businesses and supporting their growth is a fundamental part of our strategy to help Britain prosper.

“Our support at the top end of the market sits alongside our ongoing commitment to smaller firms, with our net lending to SMEs growing by 33 per cent since 2011 despite the market contracting by 12%.“

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HMi Elements, the specialist hazardous area computer manufacturers, HMi Elements, has appointed Paul Royston as its new Managing Director.

Royston joins the firm from the Pexion Group where he was Divisional Managing Director of five businesses, including Knaresborough-based precision engineering firm Claro.  

He brings with him over three decades of engineering and manufacturing experience across a range of industries including oil and gas, which will improve HMi’s production process, product development and overall company profitability.

Malton-based HMI supply ‘Apple-style’ technology to the oil and gas industry globally. The firm’s products feature in the world’s most hazardous environments, predominately in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas on offshore and land-based oil rigs.

Howard Gould, HMi owner and chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Paul to the business at this crucial time. We have targeted 20% growth this year and Paul’s appointment is a key one in helping us achieve that target.

“Our aim is to improve profitably through increased sales, launching new products as well as process efficiencies and Paul, with his many years’ experience, can help us achieve this on all fronts”

Royston added: “It’s an exciting time for the business. We have ambitious growth plans but we feel these are achievable with the launch of our new incredible Zone 1 machine in May this year and other exciting products in the development stage.

“I hope to bring some efficiencies and best practices on the process front as well as use my three decades of Managing Director experience to drive the business forward in other areas.”

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