People: Lime Solicitors; Ison Harrison; and more

Lime Solicitors has welcomed an experienced family unit of serious and catastrophic injury specialists to its Sheffield team.

Partner Rose Gibson-Harper, associate Kevin Harper and senior litigation legal assistant Ellie Harper have joined from Simpson Millar.

Gibson-Harper – who has more than 27 years’ experience – is renowned for her work in complex serious and catastrophic injury claims, including brain and spinal cord injury, loss of sight and fatal accidents.

She prioritises early rehabilitation and interim payments to alleviate financial concerns post-injury.

She said: “We are thrilled to have joined Lime Solicitors and to be able to continue our work in supporting our clients and their loved ones through extremely difficult times as a family unit.

“The firm is empathetic, caring and forward-thinking, putting the needs of its client at the heart of everything it does, which really resonates with our own personal ethos.

“We are committed to providing our clients with access to sustainable and bespoke medical support and rehabilitation support early in their journey so they can begin to rebuild their lives and the futures they deserve, maximising their independence.”

With more than 35 years’ experience in dealing with fatal and catastrophic collisions, Kevin Harper is a former police officer and family liaison coordinator in South Yorkshire Police’s serious road collisions unit.

He is passionate about ensuring families benefit from specialised legal services.

Beyond his legal work, he is actively involved in community initiatives, including as a rider for Derbyshire Blood Bikes, a motorcycle instructor for Rapid Training and a team principle for RK Racing.

Ellie Harper joined the team 2021 and has since supported cases involving tragic fatalities, brain and spinal cord injuries, severe limb injuries and amputations.

Dedicated to seeking justice for her clients, she was involved in achieving a £7.5m settlement for a client after they suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury.

Tony Hannington, head of Lime Solicitors, said: “We welcome Rose, Kevin and Ellie to our growing serious and catastrophic injury operation.

“Their vast knowledge and experience, coupled with their exceptional client care, is absolutely vital to ensuring rehabilitation and future care needs are met and providing financial security following life-changing incidents.

“The addition of this esteemed family unit is a significant milestone for us, reflecting our dedication to providing the best legal professionals for individuals and their families affected by serious and catastrophic injuries.”

:::

Law firm Ison Harrison has made six promotions across its network of Yorkshire offices.

Nicola Hunter, Natalie Clayton, Faye Chadwick, Ben Palmer, Olivia Williams and Jordan Grimbley have all been promoted to partners.

This latest series of promotions follows Ison Harrison’s transition to becoming entirely employee owned at the beginning of 2022 when the three shareholder directors agreed to sell the business to an Employee Ownership Trust.

Hunter joined the firm as an experienced family solicitor in August 2018. Having previously worked at the Otley and Guiseley branches, she will take on the responsibility of running and building up Ison Harrison’s private family offering across East Leeds based at the Crossgates office.

Clayton came to Ison Harrison nine years ago as an apprentice in the cashiers team and by mid-2022 had risen through the ranks to become assistant head of the firm’s biggest team, the new build division. She is based at the head office in Leeds city centre.

New build property specialist, Chadwick, arrived at the new build team as an experienced conveyancing solicitor in August 2019 and has been manager of the Wakefield branch since it opened last year.

An experienced property solicitor, she has grown the firm’s presence in Wakefield and across West Yorkshire, turning the office into one of the top performing regional branches.

Corporate employment solicitor Palmer is based at Ison Harrison’s Leeds city centre office.

He joined the expanding regional team in 2021 and has over 16 years of employment expertise.

He has acted on behalf of a wide range of clients ranging from airlines, PLCs and pharmaceutical companies to manufacturing.

Williams joined as a new build conveyancing assistant in 2016, was promoted to fee-earner and secured a training contract in September 2018.

She has been successfully managing the firm’s York office helping to establish the firm’s presence in North Yorkshire.

Grimbley started a the new build team in 2017 as a conveyancing assistant and became a fee-earner before starting his training contract in 2018.

Originally intending to become a commercial litigator, he adapted his skills toward wills and probate law.

He qualified as a wills and probate solicitor in 2020, just over three years after first joining the firm and has since built up a strong practice at Castleford where he is based.

Jonathan Wearing, managing director said: “This series of promotions is our second of 2023 and continues the successful year we’re having.

“These newest strategic promotions come just 18 months after the firm became entirely employee-owned.

“Since becoming employee-owned, the firm has gone from strength-to-strength, increasing its commercial offering significantly to include corporate, litigation, employment and commercial property for an ever-growing commercial client base.

“To see continued promotions following on from the success of becoming fully employee-owned is hugely satisfying. The contributions made to the firm from the promoted individuals are all richly deserved.

“Under our new employee-owned structure, Ison Harrison remains totally committed to recruiting and retaining the very best people in the legal profession as evidenced by this latest round of promotions.”

:::

PRIDE In Hull has revealed a new appointment to its board of trustees to serve a two-year period in support of the continued growth of the pride event in the city.

Stefan Harsley, who is the group finance manager for Hull business The 55 Group, will join the board to focus on expanding the work the charitable organisation is doing to support the local LGBT+ community.

Having played an active role in the community, as well as volunteering for the Samaritans, Harsley plans to build on the momentum Pride In Hull has been building, and focus on increasing equality, diversity and inclusion.

He said: “There has definitely been significant improvement in acceptance levels of the LGBT+ community since I was growing up, with many are now able to wear their identity as a badge of honour.

“However, people still face complexities within their personal journeys that can impact their mental health.

“Whether it’s societal pressures, fear of not being accepted for who you are, misunderstanding of identity or the constant ‘coming out’ some people have to do in their everyday lives, it’s these pressures that can have a real impact on people’s wellbeing – something I’m incredibly keen to work on furthering the support for.

“With that in mind, it demonstrates the important role the LGBT+ community holds for many people – it creates a safe, respecting chosen family for all. The growth in Pride events in Hull, also showcase how important these events are for the LGBT+ population too.

“I feel privileged to be appointed into a position where I can work with the Pride in Hull team to provide a safe and welcoming environment at a time where, sadly, not everyone in the community feels able to be so in their everyday lives.”

The 55 Group is the parent organisation of construction and tech business, Pagabo, Sypro, Loop and Tequ, and has previous involvement in the charity sector.