People: Schofield Sweeney; C-Capture; Ascentis Accountants; and more

Yorkshire-based law firm Schofield Sweeney has started the year by recognising the achievements of its employees with promotions.

Jessica Fielden has been promoted to director in the corporate team.

She specialises in corporate acquisitions and disposals, group reorganisations (including structuring and establishing joint ventures), debt and equity financing, including private equity transactions and public market fundraisings.

Fielden said: “Having joined as a trainee, it’s been a pleasure to grow and develop within Schofield Sweeney.

“I am very grateful to be part of a team that embodies the firm’s culture and invests in its own to nurture and support growth.”

Steven Millward, partner, said: “Jessica is the latest in a number of home-grown lawyers who are realising their ambitions and talents with the firm.

“She is an excellent and enthusiastic lawyer, who is committed to achieving clients’ objectives and delivering excellent client service.”

Elizabeth Foster been promoted to associate in the litigation team. She deals with a range of chancery and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on contentious probate and trusts work.

She said: “The firm continues to go from strength-to-strength, in terms of the quality of matters and external recognition, but even more importantly, it is such a lovely place to work.”

Leo Jones-Rowe, partner, said: “Elizabeth’s promotion is richly deserved. She started her training contract with the firm over six years ago and has developed into a key member of the dispute resolution team.

“She was recently shortlisted for “Rising Star of the Year” at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2023.

Damian Kilroy has been promoted to director in the litigation team. His experience lies with insolvency and commercial disputes, often involving allegations of fraud.

“I am incredibly proud to have been promoted to director and be a part of taking the wider team forward,” he said.

James Wood, partner, said: “Damian’s promotion is very well deserved and reflects the hard work and commitment he has shown over a sustained period.

“He continues to be a key member of our team and his promotion reflects this.”

After being the first non-lawyer to be promoted to associate in 2022, Ann-Marie Keighley has been promoted to marketing director.

Graham Sweeney, managing partner, said: “This promotion reflects Ann-Marie’s dedication and hard work and is an excellent testimony of how she has forged her career at the firm.”

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Leeds-based C-Capture has confirmed the appointment of Warren East as its chair. 

Previously CEO of Rolls-Royce and ARM, he joins the climate technology company this month.

C-Capture’s objective is to develop the world’s most energy-efficient carbon capture process using the company’s solvent-based technology that can capture CO2 directly from industrial flue gases.

The firm is developing a scalable, modular approach that will lower the cost of capture compared to current commercial solutions and can be applied to a wide range of hard-to-abate industries. 

Tom White, CEO, said: “Warren’s wealth of experience in commercialising novel technologies along with his commitment to the energy transition is a true asset to the company at a critical period in our growth.

“His expertise in successfully scaling and transforming businesses will be invaluable as we move forward with the commercialisation of our unique technology and expand our investor base.”

East said: “I am excited to be joining the team at this pivotal point and to work with the management to scale the business.

“C-Capture’s carbon capture technology has all the elements needed to break through the barriers currently preventing widespread adoption of this critical technology for the world to achieve Net Zero.”

East is a chartered engineer with almost 40 years’ industrial and technological experience.

His early career included 11 years at Texas Instruments, before joining ARM in 1994, where he was appointed to the board in 2000 and was CEO from 2001 to 2013.

As CEO of Rolls-Royce from April 2015, until his retirement on 31 December 2022 he led the company through a period of significant modernisation, capacity growth, and cultural change.

In addition, he steered the business through the pandemic and championed its strategic shift to Net Zero. 

His leadership experience includes previous non-executive director roles at Dyson and BT Group as well as current board roles at ASML and Tokamak Energy.

He has a degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University, an MBA from Cranfield, and honorary doctorates from Cranfield, Newcastle, Bath, Loughborough and Derby Universities.

With his wife he is also the founder of the Relithan Charitable Trust, which supports STEM education and medical research.

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Ascentis Accountants, a Leeds & Ilkley based accounting firm, has revealed its appointment of Lee Kaznowski as its new managing partner.

He has over 24 years experience in delivering accounting excellence to businesses nationwide. He is closing in on six years with Ascentis Accountants, as head of accountancy and leading financial reporting.

John Oddy, founder of the business, said: “We are thrilled to congratulate Lee for his well deserved appointment as new managing partner.

“Lee’s proven track record and visionary leadership make him the perfect fit to lead our team into the future.

“His strategic mindset and dedication to client success align seamlessly with our core values of Influence, Integrity, Diligence and Learning.

“We are confident his contributions will further strengthen our position as a trusted partner in accountancy and business growth services to businesses in Yorkshire.”

Kaznowski added: “I am honoured to be taking on this role within Ascentis Accountants, and I’m excited about the opportunity to continue to work with the talented team at here and further contribute to the success and growth of the practice.”

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National law firm, Mills & Reeve, has recruited Jane Ingleby as a partner to boost its Leeds family team.

She joins from Clarion Solicitors where she was head of family law.

Ingleby advises high net worth individuals in all issues relating to relationship breakdown including complex financial remedy and children proceedings, international work, pre and post marital agreements and issues relating to cohabitants, including contentious trusts and probate.

She is a qualified child arbitrator, with in-depth expertise in private children proceedings, including child arrangements applications, international relocation work and matters regarding the financial needs of children.

Elsewhere, she has a developing surrogacy practice, a particular growth area for the firm. She is a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist.

Her appointment will strengthen the firm’s expertise in children, international, wealth protection, businesses, pensions and cohabitation.

Philip Way, head of family at Mills & Reeve’s Leeds office, said: “Jane’s practice and wealth of experience perfectly mirrors our UK leading family law offering.

“Her appointment will further strengthen our strategic growth plans across all areas, particularly in complex children proceedings and surrogacy.

“Jane’s reputation in both the Yorkshire market and across the UK is excellent and I’m confident she will be a valuable addition to our growing family team.”

Ingleby said: “Mills & Reeve is a client focused firm and I’m very much looking forward to working with new colleagues across the offices to continue to provide the excellent client service that they’re renowned for.”