People: Senior appointment for business recovery and insolvency department; Trio of hires for expanding law firm; and more

Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett has appointed Robert Barnard to its business recovery and insolvency department as client services principal.

Barnard has more than 20 years’ litigation and business recovery experience. He has previously acted for leading financial institutions including Yorkshire Bank and Skipton Building Society, covering all aspects of the credit process through to litigation and business recovery.

Experienced in both the consumer and commercial debt sectors, he is also involved in the growing commercial debt purchase market providing guidance and support to clients. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management.

Lupton Fawcett provides debt recovery solutions to SMEs, owner-managed businesses, PLCs and individuals.

Nigel Whitfield, head of business recovery and insolvency at Lupton Fawcett, said: “Robert’s breadth of experience and knowledge of debt and business recovery will enhance the professional services we offer to existing as well as new clients.”

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A law firm with a strong Yorkshire presence has announced a trio of new appointments as it embarks on major expansion plans for 2020.

Harper James – which has its HQ in Sheffield – has welcomed employee incentives solicitor Ian Fraser, commercial associate Angela Kerry and legal assistant Katrina Leaf.

Fraser has over 25 years’ experience and as a leading practitioner in the share schemes field he has been recognised by Chambers Legal Directory and the Legal 500. He was a previously a partner in Simmons and Simmons and K&L Gates.

Kerry came back into practice in 2018, following a career in academia as an associate professor and LPC course director at Birmingham City University. Originally qualified into a large commercial practice in Birmingham (now DLA), she brings a wealth of experience in commercial contracts, from term and conditions to bespoke agreements across a range of industry sectors.

New legal assistant, Leaf, will be assisting  the company’s solicitors in a number of practice areas, with a particular emphasis on commercial property. A recent graduate of the University of Manchester, she achieved a distinction in the Legal Practice Course.

Toby Harper, CEO and founder, said: “We have ambitious plans for 2020 at Harper James, and we’re starting the year as we mean to go on. Investing in specialist skills means we’re in an even stronger position to serve the business legal needs of our varied client base at the start of the new decade.”

The appointments mean Harper James’ now boasts more than 35 senior solicitors. It is now working with more than 1,000 clients, a large number of which sign up to a subscription model where businesses pay a fixed monthly cost in exchange for inclusive support and access to additional support at hourly rates.

Harper added: “Our lawyers have the freedom to achieve a positive work-life balance and practice the legal work they are trained to do.

“This is a win-win for our clients too, who are able to get cost-effective access to the advice they and their businesses need. We are delighted Ian, Angela and Katrina are now part of the business and I wish them every success in their roles. ”

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Ben Pretty, a partner at global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, has taken up his place on the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Board of Directors after being formally co-opted in December 2019.

Pretty, who is based in Cushman & Wakefield’s Leeds regional office, has over 15 years’ consultancy experience, largely advising public and private sector organisations on property development, infrastructure, regeneration and economic development projects. He is a chartered surveyor and works mainly in the field of regeneration and economic development.

His appointment as a Partner last year means that he leads much of Cushman & Wakefield’s economic development and growth-based work nationally.

Pretty said: “I have been involved in economic development since 2007 and an awful lot has changed during this time.

“I have always wanted the opportunity to have an influence on change in our sector, rather than sitting back and responding to changes, so when the chance to join the Board came up it was something I was keen to pursue.

“I have been a member of the IED for 10 years – and I have seen the Institute become more and more influential over the years – so I am looking forward to supporting the next phase of its journey.

“The IED is definitely more recognised as a body and a collective group of core individuals now, with more influence and say, and that has benefited members through the representation of our interests.

“I am excited about supporting further proactive engagement with members, whether that is through thought leadership, CPD or something entirely different, and ultimately enhance the brand, profile and reach of the IED as the leading professional body in the field of economic development.

“The USP that I bring is a voice in the private sector world, especially in terms of bringing together the private sector property world with the traditionally more public sector-led agenda of economic development. Around 70% of my work is in the public sector, so I also understand that side of our membership, and I will bring my private sector commercial edge and experience to the Board.”

IED chairman, Bev Hurley, said: “The Board are delighted to welcome Ben and we are sure that his consultancy experience across the public and private sector, and expertise in property development, infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, will be of great value to the Institute and its members.”

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Sheffield communications agency Counter Context has strengthened its team with the appointment of former PR agency director, Jane Whitham.

Jane, who set up and ran award-winning Leeds PR agency Cream Consultancy and lives in Penistone, joins the Counter Context team as account director and will head the company’s fast-growing PR division.

Counter Context provides communications and public affairs services, primarily to clients in the built environment and energy sectors.

The PR team’s growth follows a number of recent client wins, which include major international architecture and design firm BDP and New Era Development, the Chinese-funded business behind the £66m New Era Square scheme at St Mary’s Gate, Sheffield.

Alexis Krachai, managing director at Counter Context, said: “Over the past 25 years we have built a strong reputation engaging, promoting and consulting on behalf of clients.

“We are trusted by some of the most successful businesses in Europe and when it comes to PR, we are seeing more and more clients turn to us for expert support.

“Our work with clients helps them connect with communities, politicians and decision makers. Counter Context is proud to be involved in the transformation of many UK towns and city centres, as well as with the renewable energy sector which is working towards a world run on green energy.

“Our work today is helping to ensure future generations have access to clean air and public spaces they can be rightly proud of.”