People: Six solicitors join Gateley, marking sixth Yorkshire anniversary; Deals heavyweight heads to Addlesaw Goddard; New chamber president announced; and more

The Leeds office of Gateley continues to expand as it celebrates six years in Yorkshire, appointing six solicitors across the construction, corporate, residential development, and banking teams.

Lisa Barker joins the construction team as a solicitor from Eversheds Sutherland’s Manchester office, where she specialised in commercial and contractual disputes, and negligence claims.

The corporate team welcomes solicitor Rebecca Bennett, who has experience of a wide range of corporate and commercial matters for private sector clients, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganisations. She joins from Fieldfisher’s Manchester office.

The Residential Development Unit has been bolstered by adding three new solicitors to its Leeds team, with the arrival of Deirdre Lindsay, Erin Bowe and Rhys Craddock. Lindsay advises on site acquisitions and disposals, as well as general residential development work and landlord and tenant matters, and joins from DWF LLP.

Bowe has joined the team from Brabner’s Liverpool office, while Craddock joins the department from Attwells Solicitors LLP in Ipswich, where he completed his training contract. Eight paralegals have also been appointed to the rapidly growing Residential Development team.

The banking team welcomes solicitor Mariam Mansoor, who joins Gateley Plc after finishing her training contract at Needle Partners Limited.

The firm’s Leeds office has enjoyed significant success since its launch in 2012. The office opened with just five people and now employs close to 90 staff, including 16 partners

William Ballmann, head of the Leeds office, said: “Our Leeds office is continuing to go from strength to strength and has seen remarkable growth here over the past six years. I’m pleased to be welcoming another six solicitors and eight paralegals to our Yorkshire base as we move into our seventh year and look forward to working with them all.”

The news follows the appointment of the Leeds office’s first Employment partners; Paul Ball and Gearalt Fahy, as well as Commercial Dispute Resolution partner, Gavin Winter, and four solicitors across the Construction, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Regulatory departments in the last few months of 2017.

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Addleshaw Goddard has announced the appointment of corporate heavyweight, Richard Hunt, as a partner in its Leeds based corporate practice – six months following the appointment of another leading dealmaker, Pete Wood from Pinsent Masons.

Hunt joins from Squire Patton Boggs, where he is head of the Leeds Corporate team advising on all aspects of M&A. He recently advised the shareholders of Poundworld Retail Holdings Limited on the sale to US private equity firm TPG Capital, a deal valued at £150m.

He has built up considerable experience and industry recognition while at Squire Patton Boggs.  He is ranked in both Chambers & Partners 2018 and Legal 500 2017 with clients describing him as “always excellent, pragmatic and commercial.”

Yunus Seedat, Addleshaw Goddard Corporate Division Managing Partner, said: “Richard is a significant and exciting hire. He is an established name in the Yorkshire market, known and respected by the whole community with a great transactional record and stellar client following. His appointment alongside Pete Wood and the existing five-strong AG Corporate partner team, provides a market leading capability to attract and resource a greater share of corporate work locally as well as from across the UK.”

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Michael Wilkinson of Frog Education has been named president of Doncaster Chamber.

Fabian Braithwaite, of HSR Law, has been appointed to the Board of Directors. The Chamber represents Doncaster’s private sector with business growth through providing a range of services and benefits and works tirelessly on their behalf to lobby local and national government about key issues affecting the private sector.

Wilkinson said: “I feel honoured to take stewardship of Doncaster Chamber over the next two-years. As a business, I’ve been an active Chamber member for over 12-years which has unequivocally supported growth. I joined the Board three-years ago to more actively serve Doncaster, contribute to the on-going representation of members and to directly input into the critically important schemes the Chamber drives on behalf of business.

“I’ve had direct input into the critical work of the Doncaster Skills Academy and the Chamber’s campaign for a University Technical College (UTC). I strongly believe that when business succeeds, we all succeed; and as such the Chamber plays a vital role in growth and prosperity of Doncaster.”

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Property consultancy Carter Jonas has appointed Matt Bredin and Harry Elliot.

Previously at Fawley Watson Booth in Leeds, Bredin is a commercial surveyor having graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2010 with a degree in Business Property Management. He joins the team as a senior surveyor and will assist in industrial search and lease negotiation advice across the region, acting on behalf of landlords and occupiers.

Elliot previously worked at Knight Frank and has recently started on Carter Jonas’ graduate scheme. Carter Jonas will provide Elliot with comprehensive training and support throughout his graduate programme before he sits his APC later this year.

Chris Hartnell, Associate Partner, Carter Jonas, said: “We saw significant growth last year and despite the uncertain economic climate, there are many opportunities to be capitalised on across the Leeds City Region.  Matt and Harry’s appointment demonstrates our continued commitment to cultivating our business and expanding the services we offer to clients in Leeds and across Yorkshire..”

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Business law specialist Ironmonger Curtis in Sheffield has appointed two senior lawyers.

David Young is welcomed as an associate in the corporate commercial department and Bernadette Horan has joined the commercial property team as a senior consultant solicitor.

A lawyer for nine years, Young honed his expertise in the commercial team of a Legal 500-ranked top tier firm in Suffolk. “Sheffield is a buoyant and vibrant city and Ironmonger Curtis is a trusted legal advisor to a strong business community. I have a passion for finding solutions for clients and am delighted to join a team with a great commercial reputation,” he said.

Horan has over 20 years’ experience, gathered in London with a large commercial firm and in Sheffield as partner at a leading national law firm. She has acted for major construction and pension fund clients and SMEs.

“I am pleased to be joining a firm with the vision and ethos of Ironmonger Curtis. I’m looking forward to adding my experience to a strong team,” said Horan.

Ironmonger Curtis Law’s expertise includes employment law, business, litigation and commercial property.

Founding partner Trevor Ironmonger said: “Having David and Bernadette in the team takes us to a new level In our 14th year of business. They have a wealth of expertise and experience and we are confident they will each play an important part in our future success.”

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Kerfoot, an entrepreneur, who grew his business from a back bedroom into a global business, replaces Barry Dodd , who is stepping down after six successful years.  Kerfoot said: “I want to start by paying tribute to my predecessor Barry Dodd. Barry has shown real leadership, not just locally attracting in excess of £250m investment and championing transformational projects such as York Potash and Bridlington Harbour, but also nationally, being a fixture on the National LEP Network Board which has worked with government to strengthen the commitment and role of LEPs.”

“We are in a great position as a LEP, having a strong track record of delivering on our promises and close working relationships with partners across the region. I want to build on this and make sure the enormous potential of this stunning and unique region is realised.”

James Farrar, chief operating officer of the LEP, added:  “We are facing a critical time, with the UK exiting from the EU which means there is going to be significant change, particularly in rural areas. The Local Industrial Strategy provides an opportunity to identify our unique strengths and make the case to government that investing in rural areas is essential to the success of the UK economy. David’s passion, understanding and commitment towards rural areas and small business make him ideally placed to lead this development.”

Kerfoot added: “The true value of a rural economy and how the most successful cities are inevitably surrounded by vibrant rural communities is often underestimated. Government policy has often been city focused, but that needs to change.”