People: Two solicitors taken on at law firm; New CEO for listed medical equipment manufacturer; Senior associate hired; and more
Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett has welcomed two newly qualified solicitors, underlining its commitment to bringing new talent through the ranks.
Ellie Leatherday and Madeleine Keast join the employment and corporate law teams respectively and will be based at the firm’s Sheffield office.
Leatherday was named Trainee Solicitor of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018. The judges were impressed by her excellent standards of work and dedication; development during training; contribution to client relationships; and recognition from colleagues and peers.
She is part of Lupton Fawcett’s award-winning employment law team, where she advises employees and employers on a wide range of matters. After completing her law degree, she obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and followed this with a Masters.
Keast has qualified into Lupton Fawcett’s corporate team. She assists on matters ranging from company acquisitions, disposals and re-organisations to share buybacks and tailoring companies’ articles.
She graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a first-class law degree and completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Sheffield. She joined Lupton Fawcett as a corporate paralegal, before becoming a trainee solicitor in 2018.
Michele Phillips, head of the Sheffield Office at Lupton Fawcett, said: “Ellie and Madeleine have already gained considerable experience within their teams and both have fantastic potential. Young talent is the lifeblood of our business, which is why we are so committed to bringing through the next generation of talent.”
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Listed medical equipment manufacturer Smith & Nephew, which has a base in Hull, has confirmed that Namal Nawana will step down from the Board and his position as chief executive officer by mutual agreement on 31 October 2019 to pursue other opportunities outside the UK.
Roland Diggelmann has been appointed as the company’s new CEO and will take on his new responsibilities on 1 November 2019. Namal will be employed and provide advice and assistance to Roland in his new role until 31 December 2019 to ensure a smooth transition.
Nawana has been instrumental in delivering on a critical phase of Smith & Nephew’s development, accelerating revenue growth across franchises and geographies as well as improving profitability.
The new CEO and senior leadership team aim to build on these foundations to further drive commercial execution and deliver on the company’s strategic ambitions.
Diggelmann joined the firm’s Board as a non-executive director in March 2018, since when he has gained deep insight into the company and its management team.
His career has been spent in medical technology, most recently as CEO of Roche Diagnostics, a global business which at the time of his departure in 2018 had a turnover of $11.5bn in over 100 markets and 34,000 employees. Prior to his 11-year career at Roche Diagnostics, Roland spent 12 years in the orthopaedics sector, serving in strategy and leadership roles at Sulzer Orthopedics and Zimmer, now Zimmer Biomet.
Roberto Quarta, chairman of Smith & Nephew, said: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Roland Diggelmann as Smith & Nephew’s incoming CEO. I am certain that Roland’s leadership qualities, combined with his excellent track record of delivering results in an innovation-led business, his deep expertise in the medical devices industry, and his knowledge of Smith & Nephew, make him the right person to build on the company’s success into the future.
“During his time with Smith & Nephew, Namal has substantially transformed the business with a new strategy, purpose and culture, and renewed commitment to innovation, returning it to an improved growth trajectory. I would like to thank Namal for his leadership and many contributions to the company, our employees, customers and stakeholders.”
Diggelmann said: “I am honoured to have been asked to lead Smith & Nephew at an exciting time for the business. As non-executive director I have seen first-hand the strength of the Group’s people and its portfolio of leading technologies. I look forward to playing my part in shaping the future of the company and driving the next stage of growth.”
Nawana said: “There is clear momentum behind our strategy laid out last year, underlined by the company’s performance generated by our team during 2019. I am proud to be leaving Smith & Nephew in a strong position for the next phase of its development.”
With immediate effect, Diggelmann will cease to be a non-executive director and steps down from the Audit Committee and Culture and Compliance Committee of the Board.
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Andrea Unwin has joined Leeds-based law firm Clarion’s growing banking and finance team as a senior associate.
With over 10 years’ legal experience, she joins from an international law firm where she spent almost four years as a financial services solicitor.
She has a strong track record in real estate and leveraged finance, acting on both the borrower and lender sides as well as representing various private equity houses. Prior to that, she spent six years working as a restructuring solicitor and has undertaken a range of work including advising on distressed debt transactions, trading administrations and LPA receiverships.
In her new role, Unwin will support Clarion’s 14-strong banking and finance team which advises on acquisition and structured finance transactions, real estate finance, asset-based finance and restructuring projects covering the full range of corporate funding requirements. The team was recently recognised in the Yorkshire Legal Awards, winning the Banking and Finance Law Award.
Unwin said: “Clarion’s banking and finance practice has very quickly grown into one of the largest dedicated teams in the North. I am proud to be joining such a dynamic, highly regarded team and look forward to being part of its continued expansion as it cements its position as a leader in the market.”
Head of Clarion’s banking and finance practice, partner Marie Pugh, said: “Having established a team with expertise in the finance sector, demand for our services from lenders, private debt funds and equity investors continues to gain momentum.
“We are delighted to be adding another excellent lawyer to the team, adding further strength in depth as we continue to provide commercial, bespoke solutions for clients.”
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Mark Fletcher
An occupational physiotherapy provider has expanded capacity at its two Leeds clinics in response to growing demand.
Following several record months for its clinics in Guiseley and South Leeds, Physio Med has expanded its team and the number of appointments available to patients.
Physio Med, which also provides cost effective Occupational Physiotherapy and Ergonomic solutions to major businesses and organisations across the UK, has operated its clinics in the city for almost 20 years and recent demand has seen the business consistently fulfil more than 1,000 physiotherapy appointments a month across the two sites.
The Leeds clinic has welcomed back senior chartered physiotherapist Miguel Cardoso on a full-time basis after he completed his Masters qualification. Cardoso, who has been with Physio Med for four years, specialises in sports injuries and MSK/pain management.
Sports massage therapists Bethany Turner and Vikki Adams have also joined the company in the Leeds clinic. In addition to Sports Massage, Turner specialises in injury assessment and rehabilitation, while Adams is the Sports Massage Therapist for the Team GB Underwater Hockey team.
Mark Fletcher, clinical director at the company, said: “Members of the public are recognising the fact that physiotherapy is not just for when you are injured but can play a part in general wellbeing, preparation for sporting events and relaxation – as well as rehabilitation, of course.
“This has been reflected in the demand for appointments recently – and so it is important to make our clinics accessible. By expanding the teams, we can offer longer opening hours and more appointments. We now have ten physios across the two clinics, alongside five massage therapists, and offer a growing range of services to ensure we can improve our clients’ health and wellbeing.”
To further support its customers’ needs, Physio Med will introduce a hypnotherapy service to its Leeds clinic from November, to help treat a variety of conditions, including stress and anxiety, and phobias.
