People: Family law appointment announced; Non-exec chair joins board of manufacturing business; New director at Deloitte Legal; and more

Leeds-based law firm Simpson Millar has appointed David Lister as its new National Head of Family Law in a move that will “significantly strengthen” its private client offering across the country.

Lister joins from one of the UK’s largest full-service firms, which was ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500, and Band 1 in the UK Chambers & Partners directories.

Having practiced exclusively in high value and complex family law cases for over a decade, Yorkshire-born Lister will support a growing team of specialist family lawyers operating out of offices in Leeds, Manchester, Central London, Kingston Upon Thames, Bristol and Lancaster.

Commenting following his appointment he said he has already confirmed plans to expand into other areas such as Liverpool, where the firm already has a well-established office.

He added: “It was easy to align myself with the firm’s open lawyer proposition because, for me, it’s always been about the clients. Getting it right for them is my priority and my track record is testament to that.”

Previously listed as one of only four Rising Stars from across the Yorkshire region, Lister is already known as a family lawyer who “punches well above his weight” and in Chambers & Partners UK he is especially noted for his experience in matrimonial finance cases, particularly those involving foreign properties, in addition to Children Act proceedings.

At 33, he is thought to be one of the youngest lawyers to be appointed to such a prominent role within a national firm.

Sarah Ryan, who heads the firm’s Private Client arm, said: “David’s experience certainly belies his youth. His energy and creative vision coupled with his ability to forge enduring client relationships on a national scale is what attracted us to him.”

Lister, who recently won the coveted Jordan’s UK Family Law Solicitor of the Year Award, added: “It’s exciting to have joined a firm nimble enough to be able to react quickly to a rapidly changing legal market. Creating and delivering extraordinary separation solutions for ordinary people in ways that fit around family life and within budget is a key strategic aim.”

The firm also welcomes into the National Family Law Team two additional hires: James Skinner, with 15 years’ family law experience, who re-joins the department following a stint in the firm’s Court of Protection team; and Maya Bhatiani, a well-known face in London, who joins the central London office as a Senior Associate, having formerly headed the Family Team at Farringdon private client practice, Laurus.

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Jo Haigh, centre, with the Produmax Board

An aerospace engineering manufacturing company has appointed a Yorkshire-based businesswoman as non-executive chair.

Jo Haigh joins the Board of Produmax, a specialist high precision engineering manufacturing company that operates globally.

She has been taken on to support continued growth and assist in the company’s vision of becoming a world-class manufacturing business and to further exploit its leading market position.

Haigh is a highly experienced non-executive director, corporate financier and a regular presenter for prestigious organisations across the UK and Europe. She was named The Sunday Times NED of the Year in association with Peel Hunt and Non-Exec Director of the Year in The IoD Yorkshire and North East awards.

Founded in 1966, Produmax manufactures for the aerospace industry from its purpose-built site in Baildon.

The company benefits from prestigious partnerships with organisations in the aerospace industry. Exporting over 70% of its output worldwide, Produmax is a global expert in flight control components and assemblies and in the past five years the business has doubled its turnover and headcount.

Haigh said: “I am extremely excited to join the team at Produmax. There is so much potential in this business and I can’t wait to get started and help the team achieve their goals.”

Jeremy Ridyard, managing director, said: “We are delighted that Jo is joining us and are looking forward to working on the next phase of our growth strategy together. The experience and energy that Jo brings with her will be invaluable.”

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The Yorkshire & North East practice of Deloitte has made a significant legal hire in the region.

Joanna Jowitt has joined Deloitte Legal as a director from Pinsent Masons. Deloitte first announced plans to expand its legal services last year.

Jowitt is a senior corporate lawyer with more than ten years’ transactional experience in M&A and private equity at Slaughter & May, Walker Morris and Pinsent Masons.

She advises domestic and international clients on both UK and cross-border transactions across a wide variety of sectors.

She has a particular focus on the financial services and advanced manufacturing technology sectors where her work has required the management of multi-disciplinary deal teams.

Among a roster of significant transactions, she acted on a $1.4bn acquisition by an Indian conglomerate, and led the corporate team advising a Yorkshire power company’s simultaneous acquisition of four power plants.

Jowitt also has significant experience in the waste and recycling space – where the transactions are often complex and demand an agile approach to problem-solving.

Andrew Coticelli, tax partner and head of Deloitte private tax, said: “It’s great to welcome Joanna to Deloitte Legal in the region.  Her reputation in the deals space is second to none and we know that Joanna is alive to commercial issues and has an outstanding commitment to clients.”

Jowitt said: “Deloitte is building a truly transformational legal business and is, even in these early days, making significant gains. I am looking forward to playing my part and providing clients with answers to the complex corporate legal issues that they are having to face.”

Michael Castle, UK managing partner, Deloitte Legal, said:  “Yorkshire and the North East is an important region for Deloitte Legal’s growth strategy and we are capitalising on the fact that the firm already has a strong presence there.

“Our clients want a best-in-class service, and to achieve this we will continue to hire the very best in talent and grow in areas that are complementary with the rest of the business, corporate law being a perfect example.”

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The founder of law firm David T Wade & Co has been appointed legal director to the Hull-based Humber Taxi Association (HTA).

The HTA provides training, administrative and legal support to private hire and black cab taxi drivers across the Humber region, including drivers in Bridlington, Goole, Hull and Scunthorpe.

Magnus Murray, secretary of the HTA, said the association has seen its membership expand as more taxi drivers are requiring greater levels of help to support them through difficult business and financial situations.

He added: “David Wade has given us very satisfactory informal legal advice for the last few years that is no nonsense and very cost-effective, especially where no legal aid is available and members are unable to afford the fees of a large law firm.

“His appointment as a formal non-executive legal director will give us a definite, readily available legal service to our members and to the HTA, providing them and us with added peace of mind around local council licensing and local government ombudsman issues.”

Wade said: “It’s a pleasure to provide this service to the HTA, who I’ve enjoyed working with immensely, since 2014. Taxi drivers in the region are faced with an increasingly difficult licensing environment, where self-employed drivers and small taxi businesses do not have the resources or knowledge to adequately defend themselves, in particular from more powerful and well-resourced councils.

“Working alongside Magnus at the HTA means that we’re here to let local taxi drivers know that they are not alone, that local councils as well as drivers must meet their statutory licensing regulations, and that we will do all in our power to ensure drivers are treated in a fair and balanced way including in any local government ombudsman complaints.”

Operating across the Humber, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, David T Wade supports clients in Hull, Goole, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Selby and York as well as serving others across the UK.

“We offer legal services to the person in the street and small businesses at rates far cheaper than traditional law firms,” added Wade, who has helped many clients with small claims, consumer matters, speeding, family and divorce, contractual, employment and landlord and tenant cases.