People: Cushman & Wakefield; KPMG UK; Holden Smith; and more

Global real estate services firm, Cushman & Wakefield, has appointed James Yates as a partner to its UK Capital Markets team.

Yates brings 15 years’ experience in real estate advisory to the firm.

He has spent his career to date at Avison Young, formerly GVA, and was most recently a director in the company’s Capital Markets team.

Yates has advised a mix of clients on commercial property transactions across all UK market sectors, including Aviva, CBRE IM, Copley Point Capital, M7, and local authorities across the country.

In his new role he is responsible for leading the Capital Markets team in Yorkshire and the North East, advising on the acquisition and disposal of commercial investments for clients including institutions, developers, property companies and high net worth investors. 

Yates is based at Cushman & Wakefield’s Leeds office, providing specialist investment advice to national and regional clients across the different asset classes. 

Jeremy Beckett, head of national capital markets, said: “Our Capital Markets team is made up of specialists with a thorough understanding of capital sources and pricing in the market, as well as the evolving needs of occupiers and what that means for investors throughout the country.

“James’s experience and considerable local market knowledge will complement the existing team and further strengthen our first-rate investment advisory service for clients.”

Yates said: “It is an exciting time to join Cushman & Wakefield. The Yorkshire and North East has deep and established investment markets across multiple sectors. 

“I look forward to forging new client relationships and supporting businesses seeking to invest in the region.”

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Euan West

KPMG UK says three people have been promoted to partner and 11 people to director, while 94 graduates and apprentices have joined the firm’s ranks in its Leeds office.

Andrew Fulton and Jenny Shutt have become partners in the firm’s Advisory practice.

Fulton leads the financial risk modelling team in the Risk and Regulatory Advisory practice, while Shutt leads the working capital team.

Nathan Potton has also been named as a partner in Tax, and will continue to provide tax advice to entrepreneurs and shareholders of privately owned businesses.

In addition to the partner promotions, Adam Fryer, Richard Thomas and Salma Younis have become directors in Audit.

Anjum Mukhtar, Jane Wilson, Lynsay Thomson, Rob Pope, Nicole Brock, Anthony Coates and Ed Crocker have become directors in Advisory. While Ben Thackray has become a director in Tax.

Euan West, office senior partner for KPMG in Leeds, said: “Congratulations to our new partners and directors here in Yorkshire & the Humber.

“Our latest round of promotions reflect the fantastic talent we have in our region, and I’m pleased to welcome Andrew, Jenny and Nathan into the partnership.

“I’m also really proud to welcome our new graduates and apprentices who play an instrumental role in our firm’s success in Leeds, and I’m looking forward to working with them as they begin their journey with KPMG.

“As a major employer, we are proud of the role we play in training the next generation of industry leaders, and these new hires and promotions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the region.”

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A Yorkshire solicitor has become one of the first in the country to qualify after studying under a new route introduced in 2021 designed to help candidates from non-traditional legal backgrounds get into law.

Brittany Clark, a solicitor at law firm, Holden Smith, has qualified after two years studying the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

During her studies at The University of Law (ULaw), Clark also worked at Holden Smith to prepare for the two-stage SQE assessment while bolstering and developing her skills working in legal practice.

She said: “I’m happy to be one of the first in the UK to qualify as a solicitor via this new route.

“The SQE has revolutionised the way in which solicitors can train, promoting social mobility and diversity in the legal profession, and opening the doors of a career in law to people who may not have considered it, or thought it was out of reach.

“Qualifying via this route meant I was able to gain valuable, on-the-job experience and learn from my colleagues at Holden Smith, while also earning a salary from day one.”

James Smith, co-founder and director at Holden Smith, added: “Until recently, the route into a career in law has been very prescriptive, but things have moved on.

“At Holden Smith, we welcomed the introduction of the SQE, because being able to recruit solicitors from a diverse talent pool is key to the future of our practice.”

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Leeds-based property regeneration and placemaking specialist, Scarborough Group International (SGI) has strengthened its senior leadership team with the promotion of Howard Cartwright to group project director.

The move brings him onto the board alongside chief executive officer, Simon McCabe, group director, Scott McCabe, chief finance and operating officer, Jeremy Tutton and group development directors, Mark Jackson and Paul Kelly, under the continued stewardship of chairman, Kevin McCabe.

Since joining SGI in 2016, Cartwright has played a pivotal role in overseeing the entire lifecycle of the group’s development projects, with a particular focus on contract and risk management.

His most recent achievements include the project management of phase one, two and three of the mixed-use neighbourhood, Middlewood Locks in Salford, which comprises 1,306 new apartments and Marina Quay, a 105,000 sq ft retail and leisure park in Rhyl.

In this newly-created board position, he will leverage his 35 plus years of technical expertise and keen eye for detail to lead the company’s next phase of development projects, which includes Queensferry One, a 120-acre industrial and logistics hub in the Forth Green Freeport in Rosyth and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, a new life sciences park focused on innovation in sport, health and wellbeing.

Simon McCabe, chief executive at SGI, said: “Over the past seven years, Howard has proven to be a trusted and valuable member of the team, and has done a remarkable job of setting rigorous standards throughout the design, construction and maintenance of our all our development projects.

“Howard’s appointment to the board is a strategic move, signalling our steadfast commitment and proactive approach to fostering a culture of accountability and transparency in relation to the technical aspects of development right across the business.

“On behalf of the group, we would like to thank Howard for all his efforts over the years and are pleased to formally welcome him as a board director.”

Cartwright added: “I’m incredibly excited to take on this augmented role and the additional challenges and opportunities it will bring.

“The introduction of the Building Safety Act places greater accountability on us as developers to ensure the technical robustness and safety of our projects, from the competency of the design teams and contractors we appoint to the procurement processes used with their supply chain.

“My appointment to the board is a deliberate move towards incorporating technical expertise into the strategic decision-making of the group and emphasises the critical role this plays in shaping its future direction and success.”