People: RWO; Ward Hadaway; BRM Solicitors; and more

Leeds civil and structural engineers, RWO, has strengthened its team with several new appointments as it continues to invest in developing its national operations.

Lisa Simpson joins as associate director, bringing extensive steel structures and civil engineering industry experience to the role, together with expertise in Revit, AutoCAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Also joining is Callum Webster and Paul Florescu, who come into the structures team as structural engineer and graduate structural engineer respectively.

Matty Atkinson steps up to the role of senior structural engineer, while the company’s Stokesley-based geotechnical department is boosted with the appointment of senior geotechnical engineer Kate Russell.

Currently employing 30 people, RWO is strengthening its team to meet strong regional and national demand for engineering services from housebuilders, commercial property developers and construction companies.

Managing director Ross Oakley said the firm is seeing growth off the back of investment in high performance staff and will recruit further this year across all its Yorkshire and North East operations.

He added: “Our strength lies in our people, so I’m pleased to welcome Lisa, Callum and Paul to RWO.

“They are experienced and talented people with values that align closely with our business so, I look forward to working closely with them as they build their careers with us.

“Huge congratulations also to Matty on his promotion, which is extremely well deserved and reflects the high standard of services he provides to clients.”

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Leeds-based law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed nine newly qualified solicitors following a successful training period.

All nine graduates are remaining with the firm, working within a diverse range of departments. They add to a growing Ward Hadaway team across northern England, with total headcount now at 476.

Matt Cormack, a partner and training principal, said: “Ward Hadaway isn’t just a place to fulfil your training contract; it’s where you lay the foundations for a successful and rewarding legal career.

“The comprehensive training, ongoing development and continuous support is why many of us choose to continue our journey at Ward Hadaway.

“The fact we have retained 100% of our newly qualified solicitors reflects our commitment to attracting, developing and retaining the best emerging talent.”

Caroline Jones, recruitment and emerging talent manager, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our 100% retention rate for our newly qualified solicitors.

“It’s great to see talented individuals choosing to continue their journey with us.

“We are committed to providing an inclusive and collaborative workplace where teamwork and personal development are key priorities.

“We’re focused on providing a diverse range of opportunities to all our employees throughout their careers to ensure they continue to gain the expertise, experience and skills required to excel in the legal sector.”

Commercial solicitor Mridvika Elliott added: “I am very pleased to be qualifying as a solicitor at Ward Hadaway after completing my training here over the last two years.

“During my training contract, I gained high quality experience in a variety of seats, which gave me a good understanding of the different practice areas available on qualification.

“I felt genuinely supported and valued throughout my training, as my colleagues took the time to invest in my personal and professional development.”

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Sheffield and Chesterfield-based law firm, BRM Solicitors, has appointed a new director to its Real Estate team.

Julie Carr joins from national law firm Knights, bringing with her extensive background in handling residential property development, guiding conditional contracts for purchasing and selling development land, and managing options and overage agreements.

She also oversaw planning promotion agreements, joint ventures, and various collaborative arrangements, co-ordinating land assembly, and establishing development sites for plot sales.

BRM’s 26-strong property team now includes nine directors and counts Woodall Group, Gleeson Homes, Reef Group and Global Brands among its clients.

Adrian Sheehan, head of the Real Estate department, said: “The addition of a new director is a significant move for us and reflects our ambitious strategy for BRM’s Real Estate Department.

“Julie’s strong track record and breadth and depth of experience highly complement our growing residential developer client portfolio, whilst we provide her with a platform regionally and nationally. “

Carr added: “BRM’s department has developed an enviable client portfolio and earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the most highly regarded in the region. I’m looking forward to being part of its future growth.”

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Former Ministry of Defence (MOD) manager and experienced sales progressor, Sharon Barlow, joins API Global, a UK property investment firm.

Barlow, who will be based in Knaresborough, has spent the last four years working for property investment businesses, including ERE Property, as a senior member of its Sales Progression team, working directly with both developers and agents.

With nine further years of experience working for HM Armed Forces and the MOD Civil Service, she will be using her leadership skills to help API clients navigate their property investments.

Michael Leighton, CEO, said: “Sharon is a fantastic addition to the API Global team. Her engagement with the legal team, external solicitors, and clients will strengthen our sales progress even further.

“We pride ourselves on the quality of individuals we hire, and Sharon is one of our best hires yet.”