People: LCF Law; Acorn Brewery; Lenvi; and more
Yorkshire law firm, LCF Law, has expanded its specialist debt recovery team with three new appointments in its Leeds office, which follows a surge in contract wins for the division since the start of the year.
Amy Dobson has joined as a debt recoveries executive. She previously spent 20 years at LCF Law before spending three years with another Yorkshire law firm and is now responsible for working with clients to recover both disputed and undisputed debts.
In addition, Elke Timlin-Bates and Gracie Porter have joined the team as apprentices.
The duo will now complete legal administration apprenticeships alongside working in the team where they will be responsible for arranging payment terms and processing correspondence for debtors, as well as working on claim forms, judgements, enforcements, statutory demands, bankruptcies and winding up petitions.
Following the pair’s appointment, LCF Law currently has six apprentices training across its four Yorkshire offices.
The firm launched its apprenticeship scheme in 2014 which offers a financially supported route to a career as a lawyer.
Partnering with a training organisation, the firm’s apprenticeship programme provides structured mentoring and paid study leave.
Head of debt recovery, Andrew Langton, said: “Since the start of the year demand for our services has soared as a result of our strong track record for recovering a high percentage return on net debts.
“In addition, at a time when company insolvencies are increasing and some businesses are taking longer to pay or wanting to increase credit terms, those owed money have a keen desire to get paid promptly and pursue unpaid invoices efficiently and cost effectively.
“Amy has a wealth of experience in debt recovery and after previously spending two decades at LCF Law, she’s already very familiar with the firm and lots of our clients, meaning she has immediately hit the ground running.
“Elke and Gracie will also further enhance the level of efficiency and promptness within the team, which is often crucial in debt recovery.
“We’re also looking forward to supporting them with their apprenticeships, which will open up a variety of potential legal and debt recovery career options for them to pursue.”
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Barnsley-based Acorn Brewery has appointed general manager Liz Casserly to take the 20-year-old business forward under new ownership.
Casserly joins with many years’ experience in hospitality management – and a pledge to champion cask-conditioned ale.
Her appointment follows the sale of the 170 brewers-barrels a-week-capacity brewery to boutique investment company Sonas Capital, with the retirement of former owners Dave and Christy Hughes.
Casserly studied Outdoor Education at Cumbria’s Charlotte Mason College, where she developed her love for cask ales working in Ambleside’s Golden Rule pub.
Following several summers spent as a canoeing and rock-climbing instructor, with winters working in Yorkshire pubs, she joined the York-based Pivovar group at its Sheffield Tap where she worked for four years, rising to the role of assistant manager.
She then managed Abbeydale Brewery’s Sheffield Devonshire Cat beer emporium – while also overseeing the sister 13-handpump Rising Sun Inn at Fulwood.
In 2019 she returned to Pivovar in a human resources role to direct recruitment and training across its Tap pub chain.
A post with Hickory’s Restaurants followed as head of bartending, opening three new venues prior to joining Acorn.
Casserly said: “I have known and loved Acorn beers for years, so I am happy to have this opportunity to take the brewery forward, building on the past 20 successful years.
“We have a top-class core cask range. That doesn’t need to change, but we will look at other opportunities for development.
“We will continue to develop the highly successful single hop IPA series, perhaps with new processes.
“Exports are also another opportunity. We already send beer to Italy and will look at building on that within the European and Scandinavian markets.”
Brendan Fitzpatrick, director of Sonas Capital, said: “In Liz, we now have a first-class general manager to lead the excellent Acorn team forward and grow the business in the face of an extremely challenging environment for both brewing and hospitality.
“Liz brings a wealth of management experience to the post, with the energy, enthusiasm and imagination to match these challenges.”
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Ahmed Amin
Lenvi, a Leeds-based provider of risk management and commercial lending software, has further strengthened its team with the appointment of two key hires, following new client wins.
Ahmed Amin takes up the role of sales director for Lenvi Riskfactor. He brings over 20 years’ experience in the receivables finance and working capital industry.
He will support Lenvi’s growth within the global commercial financial market, helping it enter new territories and building on its client list, which includes Barclays, Santander and most recently, BNP Paribas.
Amin previously held roles directing the sales and commercial departments for other financial analytics and software solutions including APARI, AccountScore and Transunion.
He said: “I was attracted to Lenvi because they’re not only leaders in the UK market but have ambitions to be so globally.
“The rapid growth in international markets is impressive and I’m excited about the impact we can make to our clients as we take the product into new markets.”
Ben Turner joins as sales director of Lenvi’s Business Process Outsourcing Division.
He will help accelerate growth following the successful migration of the Homes England secured loan servicing portfolio earlier this year, which saw Lenvi appointed to manage 235,000 mortgage customers under the Government scheme.
Turner brings 15 years’ experience in Financial Services, most recently at Arrow Global Group, where he was responsible for complex outsourced loan servicing with major retail banks.
Previously, he managed offshore servicing migrations for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
Turner said: “Lenvi’s market proposition is hugely exciting and truly unique within the UK loan market.
“Its servicing platform has been consistently innovating for over 30 years, alongside its incredible, customer-centric contact centre capabilities that support the whole spectrum of asset classes.
Ben Turner
“The new brand has created a force to be reckoned with and a refreshing sense of energy that is palpable across the organisation.”
Will Ellis, chief revenue officer, added: “These appointments underpin our hugely ambitious growth plans for the next three years.
“Our focus is to grow Lenvi internationally and introduce the next generation of lending solutions to the market.
“With these appointments, we are confident we are attracting the best people to help us achieve this.”
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Leeds-headquartered intellectual property law firm, HGF, as appointed a new chair to its Management Board – Lucy Johnson.
She was previously head of the firm’s Engineering Group. Effective immediately she succeeds Jason Lumber who held the position since 2008.
Lumber will remain as a leader of HGF’s European trade mark practice.
Johnson said: “I feel very privileged to take on the role at such an exciting time for the firm as we negotiate a fast moving landscape, with changes such as the UP & UPC as well as the advances in the use of technology and hybrid working.
“We have an ambitious strategy to enable us to continue to grow as a strong and sustainable business that we all enjoy working in.”
Martyn Fish, CEO, said: “Lucy has a strong skill set which combines substantial client winning and management skills with qualifications and experience of leadership, management and change.
“This makes her a great choice as chair. I am looking forward to working with Lucy as we lead the firm together towards our vision to be Europe’s IP firm of choice.
“I would also like to thank Jason for many successful years as chair.”
The firm has also appointed Hsu Min Chung and Mike Nelson to its Management Board to serve for a three-year period.
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