People: Womble Bond Dickinson; Stone King; Dacre, Son & Hartley; and more

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has bolstered its restructuring proposition with the appointment of a new industry expert.

Victoria Procter has joined the firm’s restructuring team as a legal director, working in WBD’s Leeds office.

She arrives after spending over 12 years at Eversheds, specialising in all non-contentious aspects of restructuring work for banks, accountants, corporate clients and other stakeholders on all aspects of distressed lending, restructuring and corporate insolvency.

She has significant experience in finance and corporate sectors and more recently, dealing with failed domestic energy suppliers, which complements WBD’s credentials in this sector.

Procter is well connected in the local and national restructuring markets with Insolvency Practitioners, lenders and other key stakeholders.

Her recruitment strengthens the WBD restructuring team on both a local and national basis and will help the team continue to win mandates on high profile matters.

She said: “My varied experience will enable me to play an instrumental role within the team, supporting the firm’s existing excellent client base and their wider plans for growth in the restructuring market.”

Andy Stirk, national head of restructuring, added: “Victoria is an exceptionally talented restructuring lawyer and well regarded by clients and peers in the market. Her appointment strengthens the expertise and service we provide to our clients.”

:::

Leeds law firm, Stone King, has welcomed solicitor Sophie Levitt-Hughes to further strengthen its Immigration services.

She is based at the firm’s Leeds office and will be responsible for supporting clients with all immigrations issues from sponsorship to individual immigration matters across the firm’s key sectors of Education, Charity and Social Enterprise, Business and Private Client.

Partner Julie Moktadir, who heads the firm’s Immigration team, said: “We’re thrilled to have Sophie in the team. It’s an extremely busy time for us, with the aftermath of Covid and Brexit impacting many of our clients and further changes to Right to Work checks on the horizon in April.”

Prior to Stone King, Levitt-Hughes provided legal services to clients of immigration law firm Fragoman, having completed her solicitor traineeship at KPMG UK.

:::

An experienced estate agent is returning to Dacre, Son & Hartley, 16 years after she first started her career in the property industry with the firm.

Kelly Maw is returning to her Yorkshire roots to head the company’s Guiseley office.

She said: “I grew up locally and got my first job with Dacres back in 2006 in the firm’s Skipton office. Later I moved with my husband to Dubai and secured a role helping people from all over the world to relocate and settle in the emirate.

“We returned to the UK earlier this year and there was no doubt in my mind we would return to my hometown.

“When I was offered a role at Dacres, I felt it was meant to be, coming full circle and giving me the opportunity to return to the firm where I first started out in property.”

Dacre, Son & Hartley has operated in Guiseley for more than 25 years.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, which operates 20 offices across West and North Yorkshire, said: “It’s great to have a familiar face heading up our office in Guiseley. We know and trust Kelly to do a great job for our clients and are delighted to have her back on our team.”

Maw added: “It will be an interesting and varied role and we are in a great position to help buyers and sellers achieve their goals. The homes in and around Guiseley have plenty of appeal, with a great range of properties.”

:::

Law firm Gordons has made six new partner promotions in recognition of each individual’s expertise, entrepreneurial acumen and ability to deliver excellent client service.

Head of start-ups and emerging companies, Amy Pierechod, and head of digital and technology, Ryan Gracey, have both been appointed from within Gordons’ corporate and commercial specialism.

Employment lawyer Bryony Goldspink and commercial property solicitor James Kimberley, who both joined the firm as trainees, have also been made up to partner.

Recent joiners, head of banking, Ben Roden, and head of restructuring, Jonathan Jackson, complete the six.

Gordons partner and member of the firm’s executive board, Victoria Davey, said: “Promoting so many lawyers to partnership at once is a significant and progressive step for us.

“Amy and Ryan have both done excellent work in building up their technology-led service offers since joining the firm seven and three-and-a-half years ago respectively.

“It is always particularly pleasing to see colleagues who joined the firm as trainees progress to become partners and Bryony and James both thoroughly deserve their promotions.

“Ben and Jonathan are recent joiners who bring new skills in their respective areas and have already made a significant positive impact within the firm and with our clients.

“All six will continue to contribute to Gordons’ success with their expertise and ability to build strong, long-term client relationships.”

Gordons has offices in Leeds and Bradford and employs 170 people.