On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

A highly experienced private client solicitor has joined the wills and probate team at East Midlands law firm, Nelsons.

Amanda Voakes has made the move from Chattertons Solicitors and Wealth Management after five years with the firm, most recently as head of the private client department. Here, she led a team of up to 45 as well as dealing with the business development and HR matters within the team.

Prior to this, she spent seven years at Langleys Solicitors, as well as working for Shakespeare Martineau and Roythornes in the past.

Voakes said: “Moving to Nelsons has been a big step, and one I felt I was ready to take to really make my mark. I knew of the firm having been in Nottingham before and felt that now was the right time to take a new path working with a smaller team that I could really get to know and support, particularly the more junior members of the team. With Nelsons becoming part of Lawfront last year, it’s been great to see the exciting steps it is taking and really showcases it as a forward-thinking firm.”

In addition to her broad legal expertise, Voakes has held the role of director and trustee of the Radford Care Group, from which she stepped down last year. Her passion for supporting older clients extends to her connections with the Alzheimer’s Society in Nottingham, of which she has previously offered help with carers’ meetings.

Amanda has also received accreditation from Solicitors for the Elderly, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Voakes added: “I am looking forward to stepping back into more varied cases, and support with business development of the department and Nelsons as a whole. My work with elderly clients and focus on mental capacity cases is where I have built most of my reputation, and I feel now I will have more time to dedicate to these areas and potentially look at new opportunities in the future.”

Chris Clubb and Harman Singh Barech

Gateley RJA, the quantity surveying, employer’s agent, project management and clerk of works arm of professional services group, Gateley, has appointed Harman Singh Barech as a technical director in Leicester.

Chartered surveyor, Barech, brings 17 years of quantity surveying, employer’s agent and project management experience to the team following roles with TSA Riley (formerly known as Henry Riley) and AtkinsRéalis (formerly known as Faithful + Gould) with experience in both the public and private sector. He also headed up the internal RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) programme at TSA Riley and has mentored and assessed RICS APC candidates on a national scale since 2018, as well as holding a chair role.

At Gateley RJA, Barech will be responsible for overseeing and developing technical output and client account management, as well as supporting the continued growth of the Leicester commercial team. His role will support director of commercial, Chris Clubb, as the consultancy continues to expand its commercial work across the healthcare, education, supported housing and insurance sectors to name a few.

Barech will also support Clubb in playing a key role in Gateley RJA’s internal APC programme as part of the consultancy’s commitment to developing its people.

Barech said: “Gateley RJA is going through a rapid period of expansion and it’s brilliant to be joining them at such an exciting time. The consultancy prides itself on both its culture, as well as the outstanding results it delivers for clients, and I’m looking forward to supporting this as we continue to develop the commercial offering.”

“We are seeing a significant uplift in instructions within the insurance sector, especially now we are part of the same group as Gateley Smithers Purslow, as well as across the healthcare, education and supported housing sectors”, said Chris Clubb. “As a result, we are rapidly expanding so needed to create a new technical director role to oversee projects and support the development of our team. Harman has the perfect expertise both in terms of delivering projects, as well as training and management, and will be a brilliant addition.”