People: New CEO at workspace provider; Appointments and promotions at law firm; and more

Denise McGeachy has been appointed chief operating officer and a director of Leeds-based independent flexible workspace provider, Bracken Workspace Plus.

The company provides workspaces at three locations in Leeds. These are Calls Wharf, which opened in 2008; The Tannery, which opened in 2010 and Albion Court, which launched in 2012.

McGeachy joined Bracken in 2001 between working summers in the US and has played a key role in the growth of the business since being appointed full time office manager in 2004, then centre manager and group centre manager in 2008 and 2012 respectively.

She said: “We’ve grown the business from one to three locations and are constantly evolving and adapting to stay ahead of the ever-changing needs of our clients and sector. I’m delighted that my commitment and hard work has been formally recognised by this appointment.

“Having already established a successful presence in the Leeds flexible workspace market, we overhauled our brand with a new name, logo and website last year and this is proving extremely popular.”

Bracken Managing Director, Neil Clark, said: “Denise has been a tremendous asset to the company and we are delighted to welcome her to the board in this well-deserved appointment.”

:::

Leeds and Harrogate law firm Consilia Legal has confirmed new appointments and promotions as the business continues to expand.

The firm was founded in November 2014 by directors Marie Walsh and Laura Clapton and specialises in family and employment law as well as mediation.

Its team is now made up of two directors, five solicitors and two paralegals.

It has welcomed Sarah Manning who is a highly experienced family law solicitor and accredited mediator. She assists director Laura Clapton in the family department.

Clapton said of Sarah’s appointment: “Sarah’s approach to family law and dispute resolution is perfectly in line with our ethos as a firm and strengthens our family mediation offering. Sarah has been a fantastic addition to our growing team.”

This year, the business has recruited paralegal Matthew Bretherick to assist in the family and employment departments both of which continue to grow.

Bretherick said: “Since joining in March I am really enjoying it at Consilia Legal. We have a great team and it is a lovely place to work. I feel like I am in the best place to start and further my legal career.”

The firm’s two Trainee Solicitors, Emma Cartlidge and Nikol Loutchanska, who started as paralegals, both qualify as solicitors this year and are being retained by the firm.

Newly qualified Cartlidge said: “I am delighted to be continuing my legal career with Consilia Legal as a qualified solicitor in the firm’s prestigious Employment team.

“I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Marie and Laura who have supported me in my journey since I joined the firm in September 2015 and to the team for their ongoing support and encouragement.”

Loutchanska, who qualifies later this month, said: “I am very excited to be continuing my legal career as a solicitor at Consilia and feel very fortunate to be able to work alongside such a lovely and supportive team”.

This year has seen two promotions in the employment law team. Employment solicitor Victoria Horner has been promoted to a Senior Associate and employment solicitor Andy Boyde is now an Associate.

Horner said: “I am delighted to have been promoted, following what has been an extremely busy year for the employment team and Firm as a whole. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the fantastic team of people we have at the Firm, to build on its success in the future.”

Boyde said: “Whilst the firm as a collective continues to go from strength to strength it is pleasing that my individual efforts have been recognised by the directors and they have rewarded my hard work and dedication with a promotion to associate level within the firm.”

Director and co-founder Walsh said: “I am absolutely thrilled with the progress of the firm over the last 18 months.

“To be in a position to train and retain solicitors on qualification and to promote internally giving some real structure to the practice is a dream come true and will hopefully help us to grow further in the coming years.

“We really appreciate all of our colleagues at Consilia Legal and they have a massive input into the success of the firm.”

:::

Accountancy and advisory firm Hentons has made senior appointments to support its continued national growth and continue to improve its service.

The Leeds-headquartered firm has appointed Tim Baum-Dixon as national head of business development. He joins the firm from South Yorkshire accountants Shorts and prior to that was at Grant Thornton in a similar role.

Baum-Dixon will lead business development for Henton’s offices in Leeds, London, Sheffield, Thirsk and York.

Russ Sowden is appointed as a learning and development business partner to deliver the firm’s commitment to continual professional development and to drive a programme of personal skills training together with risk and regulatory compliance.

Amy Allatson joins the business as HR Manager and Naomi Wright as operations manager.

Commenting on the new roles, Peter Watson, Managing Director of Hentons, said: “We are investing in building a talented team that will support the continued rapid growth of Hentons across the UK and ensure we maintain a culture of partner-led client focus.

“It is important our team has the operational infrastructure and support to thrive at Hentons and deliver exemplary service.”

Hentons recently completed the refurbishment of its Thirsk office which serves the farming community and other businesses across North Yorkshire and beyond.