People: Parklane Plowden; Gravitate Accounting; Berwins; and more

Leeds and Newcastle-based Parklane Plowden Chambers says a new barrister has accepted an offer of tenancy after completing her pupillage with the set.

Harriet Stacey has joined chambers as a tenant having initially been called in 2021 and will sit within the set’s family practice area.

A specialist in family law with a particular focus on finance, she began her specialist family finance pupillage in April 2021 under the supervision of Elizabeth Darlington and Julia Nelson.

She has gained experience in complex and high net worth financial remedies work including pre and post-nuptial agreements, and the non-disclosure of assets.

Prior to her pupillage, Stacey worked as judicial assistant at the High Court (Family Div). During this time, she gained experience across a broad range of family and Court of Protection work through providing research, reviewing the merits of applications to appeal and drafting judgments.

She said: “Parklane Plowden has a fantastic reputation as a progressive chambers, with a family law practice renowned for its outstanding expertise.

“Following the completion of my pupillage, I look forward to helping further develop and strengthen the family team’s expertise as a tenant to help our existing and future clients.”

Formed in 2007 following the merger of Parklane Chambers in Leeds and Plowden Chambers in Newcastle, Parklane Plowden is home to 124 members.

The set recently confirmed the reopening of its 11,000 sq ft premises on Westgate in Leeds city centre follow a six-figure refurbishment. In addition to its Leeds chambers, Parklane Plowden also has chambers on Lombard Street in Newcastle city centre.

Senior practice director to the family team, Mark Williams, said: “I am very pleased Harriet has accepted the offer of tenancy with chambers.

“Throughout her pupillage, she has been able to gain experience within family finance which will only benefit the set and our clients across the North Eastern Circuit and beyond.”

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Gravitate Accounting, which specialises in Xero cloud software, digital accounting and outsourced FD services, has added a third director to its board as it continues to grow.

Jonathan Carr, who has been employed as a client finance director at the Sheffield-based business since January 2021, has become a minority shareholder to support the strategic direction of the business alongside co-founders Sam Newton and Mike Crocker.

Gravitate Accounting has also hired three new team members to support its growing client base.

They are digital accountant Charlie Goodwin, client financial controller Charlotte Firth and office support Amy Howard.

The changes have been made as the business reports a 34% revenue uplift for the period ending April 2022 and has added 40 new clients to its roster since January.

Carr said: “It’s been an incredible journey so far, working alongside our fantastic team of specialists to offer the very best financial advice for a range of interesting and ambitious businesses across the Yorkshire region and beyond.

“It’s great to see Gravitate Accounting go from strength to strength and I’m looking forward to being increasingly involved with the future direction of the business.”

Newton added: “Jonathan is an experienced accountant and is extremely well thought of in the accountancy sector here in Sheffield. We’re really pleased to welcome him to our board, alongside our brilliant new recruits, as we continue on to the next chapter of our growth journey.”

Gravitate Accounting is based in Kelham Island, Sheffield, and also has hot desks available for hire in its offices. The business is giving all of its team members the opportunity to become shareholders to recognise the contribution they all make to the future success of Gravitate Accounting. Over the coming months, the accountancy firm plans to strengthen the team further with several more hires.

Newton added: “It’s been an incredibly busy 12 months and the fantastic results we’ve achieved have only been possible because of the hard work of our team.

“We don’t take this success lightly and recognise that it’s been a tough period of trading for so many sectors.

“That’s why we’re doing all we can currently to prepare all of our clients for any future downturn in the economy to ensure that they are as recession-proof as possible.

“As business owners ourselves, we’ve experienced first-hand many of the ‘growing pains’ that our clients experience and so have been able to give insight to help navigate these.”

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Yorkshire law firm, Berwins, has been boosted by a senior appointment to its private client team.

Liam O’Neill joins as head of life, bringing with him almost 25 years of legal experience.

A full member of both STEP – the global professional body for practitioners that help families plan for their futures – and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), he combines industry recognition as a leader in his field with a firm grounding in legal work.

Julie Jewers, a director in the Life team said: “We’re thrilled to welcome such a high calibre lawyer to the firm.

“Liam has a proven track record of both supporting individuals with expert legal advice and – as a partner in his previous firm – with making a very real contribution to the organisations in which he works. As head of life, he has already started to use those talents in his role at Berwins.”

O’Neill added: “I’m proud to have joined such a well-respected team in what is a very progressive firm.

“Expansion across the region and recent investments made in the business means that Berwins is well placed to thrive in the coming years and I’m excited to be part of that.”

The practice supports businesses and individuals from offices in Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield and York, as well as an additional site in London.

Managing director, Paul Berwin, added: “The appointment of such an outstanding legal professional is a significant development for us.

“Technically excellent, Liam’s deep expertise – particularly in matters relating to will disputes – adds a great deal to an already outstanding department.”

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A growing family-owned business has appointed a new partner as it begins the delivery of the next phase of its strategic plans.

Alex Matthias, chief development officer at Carlton Forest Group which is located across sites in South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, joins existing partners Mark Pepper, CEO, and Diane Ward, CCO.

He brings years of director level experience across various business disciplines including sales, business growth, policy, engineering, and energy.

Pepper said: “Having worked with Alex for the last two years, I know he is perfectly suited to the role.

“Alex’s entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity and focus will help us to deliver ongoing success and establish the business, across all its divisions, as a major player in the UK business landscape.”

Matthias joined the team at Carlton Forest Group two years ago and has played a key role in the growth of its Renewables division and its continuous pyrolysis project for end-of-life tyres, the first of its kind in the UK.

He has also driven innovative projects that are in their development phase and created detailed plans to take these revolutionary products to market.

He said: “Carlton Forest Group is an amazing business that places a huge emphasis on its people, and how it encourages them to develop, perform and simply enjoy what they do is so refreshing.

“I am honoured to join Mark and Diane as a fellow partner and know our team can continue to deliver amazing business performance as we work towards our common goals.”