People: Crowe; Pinsent Masons; Band Hatton Button
National audit, tax, advisory and consulting firm Crowe has appointed Hayley Lavery as corporate audit partner.
Based in the firm’s Midlands office in Oldbury, Lavery supports owner-managed businesses, large corporates and UK subsidiaries of global groups, particularly within the manufacturing industry.
She regularly assists clients with statutory audit, statutory accounts preparation, group reporting, and compliance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
She joined Crowe in 2006 and has more than 24 years of experience in providing audit and accountancy services to businesses across manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail and leisure industries.
Her promotion follows a series of partner appointments across the UK and marks a further step in the firm’s ongoing growth strategy.
Lavery said: “I am thrilled to join the partnership at Crowe and am proud to have been part of the firm for 18 years, working alongside so many talented people.
“The rapid pace of change in global business, such as US tariffs imposed by the US on UK steel imports, has the potential to have a significant impact across the UK’s manufacturing sector. I look forward to continuing to support manufacturing businesses, collaborating with business leaders and those shaping the sector, to help this crucial part of our UK economy to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Nigel Bostock, chief executive at Crowe said: “It is a pivotal time as businesses grapple with uncertainty while striving to boost productivity and accelerate growth. Hayley’s promotion signifies our continued commitment to meeting our clients’ growing and evolving needs and represents a further step in the ongoing expansion of our teams and expertise. Congratulations to Hayley on this well-deserved promotion.”
Ross Prince, managing partner of the Midlands & South West offices at Crowe said: “As we continue our ambitious growth plans at both regional and national levels, I warmly welcome Hayley to the partnership. Hayley brings a wealth of expertise working with a wide range of corporate businesses. With her deep expertise across the manufacturing industry and commitment to clients, her insight and approach will continue to deliver exceptional value to our clients in the Midlands Southwest and across the UK.”
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has hired corporate partner Rachel Soundy, to join the firm’s Birmingham office.
Sounds joins Pinsent Masons from Bevan Brittan, where she led its health and education M&A practice.
During the last four years, she played an instrumental role in growing Bevan Brittan’s independent health and social care and education M&A work.
Rachel Soundy
Before Bevan Brittan, Soundy spent 13 years at in the corporate team at Eversheds Sutherland where she rose to the position of legal director.
Her practice focuses on M&A in the independent health and social care and higher education sectors.
In higher education, Soundy has considerable experience advising private sector clients, investors, and public sector universities within the healthcare field.
Jo Ellis, partner and head of healthcare said: “Rachel joins our healthcare team at an exciting time. McKinsey singled out health and wellbeing as one of their priority themes ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, showing just what a growth opportunity the sector represents. Rachel’s corporate healthcare expertise will help us to take advantage of domestic investment and M&A opportunities as well as further strengthen our offering across Europe.”
Gayle Ditchburn, head of office in Birmingham and higher education specialist said: “We are delighted to welcome Rachel into the partnership in Birmingham. Our higher education clients are wrestling with increasing financial pressures and regulatory intervention. We expect to see significant consolidation within the sector and Rachel’s expertise will be invaluable to those clients who are navigating mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures.”
Band Hatton Button has announced the appointment of four new lawyers since March 2025.
The commercial property team has welcomed two new recruits, with Gurpreet Hayer joining as a partner,
bringing over 10 years of experience in the field.
Formerly with Irwin Mitchell, Hayer specialises in acquisitions for investor clients, financing and refinancing of commercial assets, corporate-led transactional work, and all aspects of real estate and landlord and tenant matters.
Also joining the commercial property team is Yasmin Teensa, who comes on board as a Solicitor.
Teensa qualified in 2022 and has a strong client-centric approach. Her areas of expertise include acquisitions and disposals, leasehold matters, auction purchases, commercial refinancing, and
residential development and plot sales.
In the residential property team, Navroop Kaur has joined as a licensed conveyancer.
With over eight years of experience, Kaur handles complex freehold, leasehold, and new build transactions from instruction to completion.
The family team also welcomes Jasia Sultana, who joins the firm as a solicitor. Sultana qualified in March 2024 and joins from the National Legal Service. She specialises in advising on family and child law.
Band Hatton Button has also recognised the achievements of three existing team members through recent promotions.
Charlotte Barker-Davies (Commercial Property) and Katie Ward (Head of Residential Property) have both been promoted to partner. Ruth Hayfield (Family) has been promoted to associate.
Jon Wilby, senior partner said: “I’m pleased to welcome our new colleagues to the firm and to celebrate the well-earned promotions within the team. These appointments and promotions reflect the fantastic talent we have here at Band Hatton Button, and our continued focus to grow and strengthen key areas of the business and the service we provide to our clients.”
