People: Taylor Emmet; Roche Legal; Brandon Medical; and more

Law firm Taylor Emmet has revealed a new head of Personal Injury in a series of 24 promotions across its offices in Sheffield, Rotherham and Derbyshire.

John Green has been promoted to head of Personal Injury in recognition of his hard work and commitment to the company.

He replaces Jonathan Stittle, who is retiring after 37 years with the business.

Taylor Emmet has also confirmed the appointment of one associate director, eight senior associates, four associates, one senior manager, one manager and eight paralegals.

Those who have been promoted will strengthen departments across the firm, including clinical negligence, personal injury, wills and probate and corporate.

HR director, Sharna Poxon, said: “We feel extremely proud to have dedicated, ambitious and talented individuals working with us at Taylor Emmet and we are happy to see so many of our people moving ahead in their careers.

“From their endeavours to help make the lives of those they represent better, their work within the community, the support they provide to their colleagues and their commitment to developing the future of Taylor Emmet, everyone contributes making the firm such a fabulous, resilient, and vibrant place to work.”

Steve Hinshelwood, CEO, added: “The number of promotions shows what an exceptional team we have here, and we want to nurture that talent and recognise their tremendous efforts by offering new opportunities to take their careers to the next level.

“We’re dedicated to providing all our people with training, mentoring and career progression and we make sure they have the right support and tools to succeed through our Talent Enhancement Programme, which has been a roaring success in the past two years and is constantly evolving.

“Those who have been appointed to new roles have gone over and above for our clients and we’re thrilled to be supporting them on their journey.”

:::

Rachel Roche, owner of Yorkshire-based Roche Legal, has been appointed vice chair of the London chapter of the New York Bar Association (NYBA), recognising her position as key figure in international cross border legal work.

She has been the driving force behind Roche Legal’s UK/USA probate service which has attracted funding from the Department of Trade and Industry with the same service being offered to clients living in France Spain and worldwide.

In June 2022, she accepted an invitation to participate in a panel of lawyers from  Brazil, the USA, Canada and Spain, to discuss cross-border estates at the New York State Bar Association Summer Conference in New York. 

As a result, in November, Rachel chaired a panel for NYSBA International Section in London and subsequently, she has been unanimously voted into the role of vice-chair of the NYSBA London chapter.  

This role comes as Roche Legal opens its first London office in the former London Patent Office in Holborn, close to Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Rachel Roche, who is based in York, said: “The NYSBA International Section is a global community of lawyers who share a common purpose – to advance the rule of law and create a strong network of international lawyers around the world.

“I did my Masters in French and European law at the Sorbonne in Paris having spent time in France learning the language at an early age. 

“The New York Bar Association (NYBA) gives Roche Legal a gateway into America and a network of legal people who will be able to help our clients.

“The NYBA has links with lawyers all over the world in countries such as Brazil, Panama and Canada and I am pleased to have been asked to be vice chair of the London Chapter.

“It makes sense to broaden Roche Legal’s horizons and acknowledge that people live in different countries and it is important to cater for this mobility. It is important to be ahead of the curve.

“Multiple jurisdictions require a grasp of the legal concepts around the world to signpost these to clients and ensure their needs are met.”

:::

Brandon Medical, a designer and manufacturer of medical equipment, says Sue Roberts has officially joined its Board of Directors.

She joined Leeds-based Brandon Medical just over a year ago and has been serving as the acting operations director.

Roberts has over 30 years of experience in senior operational and director positions for award-winning manufacturers across a variety of disciplines.

She previously worked for the UK Government, developing a strategy for SMEs to trade internationally.

She also transformed a medical device manufacturing business into profit and served as the head of operations for a market-making telecoms manufacturer that was sold to a blue-chip American company for $30m dollars.

In addition to her background in manufacturing, Roberts is a STEM ambassador, working with young people to develop careers in the industry, and serves as a panel member for Cancer Research UK, supporting fundraising efforts across Yorkshire.

She said: “I am honoured to officially join the Board of Directors at Brandon Medical. I am excited to continue working alongside the team to drive innovation and deliver value to our customers and stakeholders.”

Graeme Hall, chairman, said: “We are thrilled to have Sue join the Board of Directors. Her proven leadership skills and expertise in manufacturing will help us continue to grow and achieve our goals.

“We look forward to working closely with her to drive innovation and create value for our customers and stakeholders.”

:::

A wellness coach from York has become an official Wim Hof Method Instructor. 

Denny Davis aims to help women improve their lives and has added the method to her toolkit. 

Developed by Dutch extreme athlete, Wim Hof, it uses a combination of cold exposure, breathing techniques, and meditation to help people take control of their mind, reduce stress, and improve their wellbeing mentally and physically.

It has built up a celebrity following, with practitioners including David Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, and Justin Bieber.

Davis said: “I feel so passionately about the benefits of the Wim Hof Method because I’ve seen in myself how it can provide clarity, manage stress and offer a positive outlook on life.  

“I’m really excited to be able to share this enthusiasm through my classes and help as many people as possible.  

“I’ve been a successful yoga and wellness coach since 2019 but the pandemic made me pivot and look at new methods to improve people’s lives.”