People: Blacks Solicitors; Burendo; LHL Group; and more

Blacks Solicitors has appointed a senior associate solicitor to its Commercial Dispute Resolution team.

Paul Sagar has joined the firm to expand the specialist Property Disputes offering. This acts on behalf of landlords, tenants and landowners, and offers advice to resolve disputes and avoid further issues later down the line.

Sagar said: “It’s a real privilege to have been appointed by Blacks in order to contribute to its significant growth plans, in particular for Property Disputes and Commercial Dispute Resolution.

“I’m really looking forward to working alongside Luke Maidens and Luke Patel to grow the team and provide a first class service to existing and new clients.”

Sagar has over 15 years’ experience, acting in a wide variety of commercial and residential property disputes for landowners, occupiers, lenders, receivers and developers.

He has previously worked at law firms in London and Leeds, most recently at a property litigation practice. He also has specialist experience in the field of telecommunications, having represented both site providers and operators in the past.

Luke Maidens, head of Property Disputes, said: “We have exciting growth plans for both Property Disputes and the Commercial Dispute Resolution team as a whole.

“Paul’s appointment has strengthened the teams and will enable us to continue expanding our offering as one of the strongest teams in the region.”

Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution, Luke Patel, added: “Paul’s wealth of property litigation experience and skill set will strengthen the team to deliver an exceptional service to our growing local and national property client portfolio.

“Paul is a perfect fit, and his recruitment is in line with our vision and future growth strategy.”

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Leeds-based agile business transformation leader Burendo has appointed Sadie Alton as finance director.

She joins from a competitor technical consultancy where her outstanding work led to her being shortlisted for the 2021 Northern Finance Director Award.

A graduate of Newcastle University, she arrives with more than two decades of experience in corporate finance, restructuring and as a finance director.

She is the latest high profile recruit to an almost 150-strong team at Burendo which specialises in empowering large organisations and SMEs to improve their agile adoption and delivery processes.

Set up in 2018 by Gary Green, Glenn Crossley and Austen Bell, the firm is on course to achieve an £18m turnover in the current financial year.

Green, Burendo people director, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sadie.  She is a leader in her field and a perfect fit for Burendo. Sadie has an impressive career history, having worked for some of the biggest names in business.

“She also headed her own consultancy for a significant period and is someone who leads from the front.

“It is fantastic to have her onboard as the Burendo continues to grow rapidly.”

Alton said: “I am excited to be joining Burendo which, in its short history, has established a formidable reputation for delivering large scale business transformation nationally and globally.

“It is a privilege to be taking up the role of finance director at such an exhilarating stage of the company’s development.”

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Building surveyor Daniel Bower has been made a director of Yorkshire property and construction consultants, LHL Group.

He joined in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) Building Surveying from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. After qualifying in 2015 he became an associate director in 2019.

His work includes project management, employer’s agent and contract administration for new build and refurbishment schemes as well as traditional commercial and residential property building surveys and dilapidations work.

Among schemes he has supported are the development of a new £3m headquarters in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, for European manufacturer and supplier of agricultural machinery, Grimme; the Treadmills regeneration scheme in Northallerton and the redevelopment and modernisation of Thorp Arch Estate near Wetherby.

He said: “After almost eight years with LHL Group, I’m pleased to be joining managing director, Richard Hampshire and director, Shaun Bennett, on the board and supporting the wider management and development of the business in a highly competitive climate.”

Hampshire added: “We are always looking to promote talented younger members of the LHL Group team and are delighted to offer Daniel a wider strategic role in the company after the retirement of former managing director John Denton.”

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Chris Atkinson

BHP has strengthened its Digital Finance team with the addition of 11 new starters across its offices in Sheffield, Chesterfield, York, Leeds and Cleckheaton.

The team now has 35 members across all five offices.

Since September, BHP has welcomed senior manager Andrew Gibson, manager Maria Morton, assistant managers William Wright and Adam Sinclair, and assistant accountants Evan Parry, Jack Stokes, Lauren Shirley, Luke Robinson, Ruby Swords and Sophie Evans.

The growing number of digital finance specialists support businesses throughout their evolution using the latest in accountancy technology.

Chris Atkinson, digital finance partner, said: “Digital Finance is now a major focus point for BHP and the expansion of our team reflects the value that we place on this new way of doing accounts.

“We research solutions that streamline finance functions and help our clients to achieve their business goals. We’re partnered with the leading cloud accounting software, which revolutionises the way we do accounting – and the way our clients do business.

“We’re looking forward to seeing all our new starters grow and develop within their roles. They are a direct investment in the future, enabling us to expand our offering to clients with their variety of skills and expertise.”