People: Two directors appointed as partners; senior hires for Epiphany; head of lettings hired and more…

Two directors at Leeds law firm Clarion have been promoted to partner.

Marie Pugh joined the firm in 2004 and qualified into the property team three years later. She was promoted to senior associate in 2013 and to legal director last year.

Lynsey Harrison has been with the firm for 16 years, developing a niche litigation specialism in the contentious private client sector. She was also named ACTAPS (The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) Contentious Solicitor of the Year 2015.

Roger Hutton, joint managing partner at Clarion, commented: “As a firm, we are committed to enabling our people to grow with us.

“Both Marie and Lynsey have worked extremely hard to develop their niche areas of expertise in their respective fields and have been successful in developing growing teams, significantly contributing to the ongoing success of the firm.

“These promotions are well-deserved recognition of their talent and commitment and it is particularly satisfying to see two such long-serving members of the team reach the position of partner.”

Search specialist Epiphany has hired two to its senior team.

Kerry Fyans joins the Jaywing company as director of strategic growth and partnerships, whilst Gareth Rees has been hired as director of planning.

The pair will focus on Epiphany’s use of audience data and planning, working closely with the newly formed Jaywing Intelligence; a product suite that uses artificial intelligence and virtual reality technology.

Fyans was formerly an associate director at Carat, prior to which she spent five years in Australia, operating in leading roles in the Dentsu Aegis Network, before joining Epiphany.
She will lead on developing and implementing new areas of digital expertise.

With senior strategy and planning management experience at the BBC and MediaCom, Rees joins from Amplifi Manchester where he held the role of digital planning director.

He will be responsible for creating truly multi-channel strategies, embracing the agency’s client, audience and market approach and harnessing the wealth of channel expertise already established.

Tom Salmon, managing director at Epiphany, a Jaywing agency said: “Gareth and Kerry will be instrumental to our future development and I’m delighted to welcome them to the team.

“This investment in strengthening the talent in our senior team highlights our market-leading position, it will create new opportunities for our business and employees and further build on our already solid reputation as a great place to work. These appointments are a great start to an exciting year ahead.”

Dacre, Son & Hartley has appointed a new head of lettings.

Emma Kerrywood joins the firm from Morgans in Leeds, with 20 years of experience.

Based in Ilkley, she will be responsible for leading a team of eight, overseeing lettings across all of the firm’s 20 offices.

She said: “Having worked in the lettings market in Leeds for 20 years, I have an in-depth knowledge of the city and the surrounding areas. I also thoroughly understand property investment, having managed large property portfolios for both individuals and investors, and have a proven track-record for delivering excellent customer service to both landlords and tenants.

“Dacres operates across a huge area in West and North Yorkshire, my role will be to build on the current lettings offering and continue to grow the both the business and the team. It’s an exciting new role, and I am confident I can bring added value to the already high standard of service currently on offer.”

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential sales at Dacre, Son & Hartley says: “Our lettings division has been going from strength to strength in recent years and we’re winning new instructions from both existing landlords and property owners, as well as new investors who are attracted to buy to let property as a result of low interest rates and high tenant demand.

“This is a newly created role in response to the increased levels of lettings work our firm is being instructed upon, and Emma’s appointment will help us to grow this thriving side of our business even further.”

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Law firm Harrogate Family Law has appointed Carol Jessop as partner from Langleys in York.

Jessop sits on the national Standards Committee for the family law body Resolution and is accredited by the organisation as a specialist in cohabitation and complex financial divorce cases.

Andrew Meehan said: “Carol has significant experience in complex areas of family law including financial and child arrangements for separating couples.

“She is also extremely knowledgeable in the issues and challenges faced in cases involving business assets and pensions, areas that the Harrogate Family Law team is recognised for regionally.”

Jessop said: “Harrogate Family Law has a strong reputation in North Yorkshire and I am looking forward to being part of a high calibre team.”