People: New hire at property and construction consultants; Chartered surveyor recruited; and more
Property and construction consultants, LHL Group, has extended its senior team with the appointment of chartered building surveyor and project manager Paul Halliday.
Halliday has more than 30 years’ construction industry experience and joins LHL Group after 15 years with a large Leeds firm.
He will divide his time between the LHL Group’s York and Harrogate offices.
After starting out as an apprentice plumber and heating engineer, he gained a BSc (Hons) Building Surveying Classification in 1998 and became a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
His main expertise is in projects and contract administration and legislative compliance works, including building surveys, Equality Act surveys and fire integrity work for commercial and public sector clients in Yorkshire and across large property portfolios nationwide.
LHL Group, which has 33 staff and works on a wide range of commercial, residential, industrial and heritage projects throughout the North, has offices in York, Hull, Harrogate and Doncaster.
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A Leeds property company that celebrated its 160th anniversary last year and is home to one of the region’s largest residential block management divisions, has expanded its team with the appointment of chartered surveyor Aundre Hamilton-Martin.
Hamilton-Martin originally joined Adair Paxton in 2019 temporarily to cover a colleague’s maternity leave, but due to a significant increase in business, the firm created an additional position within its residential property block management arm.
The team now manages a portfolio of buildings that houses more than 4,500 apartments, with an estimated value in excess of £675m.
Director of residential block management, William Marshall, said: “Aundre’s appointment has seen us grow our team of property managers from four to five, and between us we have over 50 years’ industry experience.
“We manage a wide range of residential apartment buildings across Leeds, Harrogate, York and Ilkley and have just won a new contract to manage 95 apartments in Wythenshawe in Manchester on the recommendation of a previous client, who was impressed with our services.”
Marshall previously worked at Manning Stainton for five years within the lettings and maintenance division.
He added: “We have specialised in residential service charge management for 30 years and take our role incredibly seriously, as we are liable for the safety of residents and for the upkeep of their buildings.”
Hamilton-Martin said: “Without a careful and considered management team in place, a huge range of problems can arise in apartment buildings, often making homes difficult to sell or let.
“Quality management helps to protect and maintain the value of a property and assists in providing an enjoyable environment in which to live.
“William has been in the industry for over 20 years and is a great role model, and I am really enjoying working for a business that is so dedicated to getting things right.”
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A solicitor has returned to the corporate department of a law firm, where he first worked 11 years ago, following the acquisition of Crooks Commercial Solicitors in Wakefield by LCF Law.
Michael Crook has joined Yorkshire based LCF Law’s corporate team as a partner, after running Crooks Commercial Solicitors for the last eight years.
He worked at LCF Law for seven years as well as at Gordons and Chadwick Lawrence before setting up his own business.
Crook said: “Having worked at three major regional practices before setting up my own successful business, I’ve represented a wide range of clients from small owner managed businesses to large public companies, acting as lead advisor on a variety of business sales and other corporate and commercial legal matters.
“Whilst running Crooks Commercial Solicitors I always maintained a strong relationship with LCF Law, often cross referring clients. LCF Law is a firm I have always respected, with a sound reputation in both the legal industry and with clients, so it made it a perfect fit.”
Simon Stell, managing partner at LCF Law, said: “Michael will work closely with our experienced corporate teams and we look forward to welcoming many of his clients to LCF Law.
“We hope to exceed their expectations in terms of service and value for money.”
LCF Law provides a full range of corporate and personal legal services, and expanded into 6,000 sq ft of newly refurbished space at 33 Park Place in Leeds earlier this year.
The new premises accommodate 35 of LCF Law’s team, with lawyers and support staff moving from the firm’s existing Leeds city centre office on Sovereign Street.
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Leeds-based specialist employment law practice Thrive Law – headed by multi-award winning solicitor and mental health campaigner Jodie Hill – has appointed Tanya Dolan as a consultant solicitor.
In a move designed further to strengthen Thrive Law’s national presence, Dolan will be based in London, and will focus on the commercial HR and employment law sectors.
Hill said: “With 15 years of post-qualification experience, including as the UK’s lead on the International Aviation Women’s Association, Tanya is perfectly placed to build on our growing reputation as a national specialist employment law practice.”
Prior to joining Thrive Law, Dolan worked with the Law Society in connection with the launch of its Women in Law Pledge last year and she is currently working on the development of the Law Society’s new Diversity & Inclusion Charter.
She is also a board member of the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter, a member of the Women in Work All Party Parliamentary Group and a LawCare volunteer.
Her legal specialisms include unfair, wrongful and constructive dismissal claims, discipline & grievance procedures, employment contract drafting and disputes, redundancy, corporate restructuring and settlement negotiation.