People: Wilkes; Goold Estates; Marks Sattin

Wilkes LLP, a Midlands independent law firm, has announced the promotion of five lawyers to partner.

The newly promoted partners are Lucy Freeman (Corporate), Emma Hutchison (Business Recovery and Turnaround), Harriet Critchley (Property Litigation), Kate Campbell-Gunn (Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence) and Sophie Fenn (Private Client).

Ellie Holland, managing partner at Wilkes said: “We are proud to recognise the hard work and strong contributions of Lucy, Emma, Harriet, Kate and Sophie. Each has demonstrated outstanding technical expertise, a commitment to delivering the highest levels of service, and a passion for supporting clients and colleagues alike. Their promotions are well deserved and reinforce our investment in the next generation of leaders who will drive the firm’s continued success.”

Goold Estates has welcomed a new development director.

The West Midlands-based property investment and development company has welcomed Matt Bevington to the team, where he will lead the delivery of a portfolio of industrial/logistics projects across the region.

Bevington joins Goold Estates from Trinity Property Consultants and brings more than 30 years of experience in the commercial property and construction sector.

His career spans both contractor and consultancy roles, having worked as a quantity surveyor, employer’s agent, and project manager on a wide range of developments.

Matt Bevington

He has played a key role in the delivery of several high-profile schemes at strategic sites including Kettering, Hinckley and Avonmouth, and was also part of the Goold Estates project team behind the transformation of Steelpark Trading Estate in Wolverhampton.

His appointment comes at a pivotal time for Goold Estates, as the company accelerates work on a series of new developments, including 15 industrial and distribution units at Foundry Business Park in Bilston, and a 355,000 sq ft logistics scheme at Neachells Lane near Wolverhampton city centre.

Bevington said: “I’ve known Dominic Goold for over 20 years and have seen Goold Estates evolve from a small portfolio of development sites into a dynamic and ambitious business. What really excites me is the next phase of growth. There’s a clear vision and momentum behind the company, and I’m looking forward to being part of that next chapter and helping deliver its future success.”

Dominic Goold, managing director of Goold Estates said: “Matt’s knowledge of the region, combined with his technical expertise and industry experience, makes him a valuable addition to the team. He’s worked with us on key projects in the past and already understands our ambitions and approach. We’re delighted to have him on board as we push forward with our development pipeline and continue to seek new opportunities.”

Specialist recruitment and executive search agency Marks Sattin has strengthened its team in the West
Midlands with the appointment of Andrew Wilkinson as associate director.

A specialist financial recruiter, Wilkinson has almost two decades of experience sourcing candidates for head of director level roles at FTSE 100 companies, as well as innovative start-ups and fast-growing SMEs.

He brings a wealth of knowledge to the Marks Sattin team in Birmingham and will be leaning on it to strategically grow the business’s reach, impact and reputation in the Midlands across the accountancy and finance sectors.

Andrew Wilkinson

Wilkinson said: “Marks Sattin has a genuine senior team who offer clear communication and a down-to-earth approach. When its recruitment team reached out to me, it came at a time when I was ready for a brand-new challenge. To be met with such an authentic, talented and passionate team when I joined the business was refreshing.

“Taking on a new position, for me, is all about making an impact and bringing a fresh perspective to processes and strategies – it’s a pleasure to be joining a team that does this as part of their ‘business as usual’ approach, clearly always looking at how we can better serve our clients and candidates. My new team is very talented, and we share all the same values of partnership and collaboration as the key piece to any successful recruiter-client relationship.”

Wilkinson has previously supported recruitment efforts for major brands like National Grid, The Phoenix Group, FEDEX, DHL, Peugeot Citroën, and Jaguar Land Rover.

He is skilled at offering tailored recruitment solutions, ensuring the right fit for each client’s specific requirements.

With such a storied career across major brands and conglomerates, he has developed a broad and deep understanding of placing candidates in roles from CFO to finance director, and financial controllers to head of group reporting.