People: Levi Solicitors; Evelyn Partners; Bowman Riley; and more

Leeds-based Levi Solicitors has confirmed the promotion of Gemma Horner to partner in the firm’s dispute resolution team.

The promotion brings the firm’s total number of partners to 12. Horner has been with the practice since she qualified as a solicitor in 2019.

Altogether, she has over 11 years’ experience in dispute resolution, and in 2022 obtained her Civil Advocacy Higher Rights of Audience to become a Solicitor Advocate.

She has particular expertise in complex residential property disputes, professional negligence claims, commercial property disputes and commercial issues. She acts for commercial clients and individuals in West Yorkshire and further afield.

Horner said: “Since joining Levi, I have had the benefit of excellent support and guidance from the department and the firm as a whole.

“I hope I can support and inspire others to continue to develop the already strong offering that Levi has across a range of specialisms.”

Ed Smith, head of Dispute Resolution, added: “Having worked with Gemma for the past four years, it gives me great pleasure to see her promoted to partner. She is a true asset to our team.”

Ian Land, senior partner, said: “We are pleased that Gemma is joining the partnership. We believe in nurturing and developing talent, and rewarding colleagues’ hard work and expertise.”

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Evelyn Partners, an integrated wealth management and professional services group, has bolstered the investment management team in its Leeds office by appointing Lauren Glaister as a partner.

She joins from LGT Wealth Management’s discretionary fund management business (previously part of abrdn) where she spent three years and was a senior investment manager.

Prior to LGT and abrdn, she worked for Tilney Investment Management (now Evelyn Partners) and Redmayne-Bentley.

She specialises in managing investments for private clients and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

She is also a trustee of Leeds Hospitals Charity and sits on their Finance & Performance and Audit & Risk committees.

Evelyn Partners’ Leeds office – which is based at City Point in King Street – provides a range of services, including financial planning, investment management and tax advice, to help clients manage their personal and business financial affairs.

Ian Gibson, managing partner at the Leeds office, said: “I’m happy to welcome Lauren to our Leeds investment management team.

“Lauren is a former colleague, and I am looking forward to working with her again as we continue with our growth plans in the region over the course of 2024.

“I know that Lauren’s extensive, senior investment management will be a great asset for our business and clients.”

Glaister said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Evelyn Partners team in Leeds, I know many of them well and feel it will be an excellent and important move in my career.

“The investment proposition offered is second to none and along with my new colleagues I believe we have a real opportunity to further the superior growth already achieved.”

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Skipton, Leeds and London-based property consultancy, Bowman Riley, has strengthened its senior leadership team by promoting Colin Briggs, Dan Heward and Craig Mewse to director positions.

Briggs, Heward and Mewse have served as associate directors for the past four years.

In his capacity as a director, Briggs will spearhead the Leeds architecture team, bringing to the forefront his extensive experience and expertise in residential developments, hotels and leisure projects, and commercial schemes.

An architect by profession, his accolades include the recent achievement of an MSc in Management Practice, further solidifying his proficiency by becoming a Chartered Manager.

Heward is an architectural technologist by profession with a track record in leading successful delivery teams and handling complex programmes of work. He has navigated intricate project landscapes, ensuring successful outcomes for national clients, including The Co-op.

Mewse, an architect, will continue to lead a diverse range of projects across multiple sectors for clients, including Harrogate Town Football Club and Enterprise Retirement Living, while also leading Bowman Riley’s initiatives in the education sector for long-standing clients, including Red Kite Learning Trust.

Michael Feather, managing director, said: “Colin, Dan and Craig’s promotions signify our commitment to nurturing talent and expertise within Bowman Riley.

“Their leadership will invigorate our teams and drive excellence across a spectrum of project types.”

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Business leader Edward Naylor has been chosen to chair a new board to help plan almost £20m investment into Barnsley.

The Government confirmed in October a new “Long-term Plan for Towns”, which aims to bring together community leaders, businesspeople, and local bodies to forge their towns’ future together.

This is supported by £20m investment over 10 years from the Government.

The Government has stated this money must be spent in the historic ‘Barnsley Town’ area which includes the town centre and some surrounding residential areas.

A plan for how to spend the money needs to be drawn up by summer 2024. A new board is being developed to help steer this work and Naylor has been appointed to lead it.

He is chief executive and majority shareholder of Naylor Industries plc, a Barnsley-based fourth-generation family manufacturing business, whose seven factories include sites in Cawthorne, Wombwell and Barugh Green.

The original company was established in 1890 as a manufacturer of clay drainage pipes, but the company has since diversified and grown to become a global provider of plastic and concrete products- primarily for construction- employing some 400 people.

The board will also include other local business leaders, as well as representatives from local charities and community groups.

Criteria for the funding requires it to be spent across three key themes, which include safety and security, high streets and transport/connectivity.

Naylor said: “I’m pleased to have accepted the offer to lead the board which will deliver this historic investment into Barnsley.

“I’m proud to be from Barnsley and have enjoyed seeing the fantastic transformation of the town centre in recent years.

“We have got a tremendous opportunity to bring together local leaders, business people and community groups and to get input from local people to create the best possible plan we can to make the most of this investment for the people of Barnsley.”