People: LCF Law; Inspectas; Saffery; and more

Yorkshire law firm, LCF Law, has welcomed three new lawyers into its ranks after Holly Jordan, Jonathan Gardner and Melanie Parsons completed their training with the firm and passed their final exams and legal qualifications.

All three will now continue their careers in different departments at LCF Law, across its Leeds and Bradford offices.

Parsons graduated from the University of Leeds with a LLB Law degree and joined LCF Law as a paralegal before starting her training contract.

The experience she built up as a paralegal enabled her to complete her training contract six months early. She originally worked in the firm’s disputes and corporate teams before joining the real estate department in Bradford.

She now mainly advises on the sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold residential properties and assists with commercial transactions including leases, licences to assign and surrenders of commercial property.

Gardner joined as a paralegal after completing his legal masters at the University of Manchester and LPC at the University of Law.

He worked in the firm’s commercial property and personal law teams, before finding his calling in LCF Law’s disputes department specialising in commercial disputes and insolvency in its Leeds office.

After completing his training two months early, he now advises on corporate disputes relating to contracts, banking, directors’ claims, liabilities, intellectual property, professional negligence, partnerships and shareholder disputes, as well as a range of corporate and personal insolvency matters.

Jordan joined after completing her Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BPP University in Leeds while working full time and her qualification concludes eight years of legal studies.

During her two years of training, which she completed two months early, she worked in LCF Law’s real estate, litigation and contentious probate departments before choosing to join the corporate team in Leeds.

She now advises on disposals and acquisitions, directors’ duties, corporate governance, business structures, restructures, partnerships, LLPs, joint ventures, succession planning, exit strategies and employee share ownership.

She said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my training and gaining practical experience across so many varied departments, whilst having exposure to clients and responsibility in a fast-paced environment, with the guidance and support of both senior colleagues and partners.

“Everyone has always been very supportive and approachable, which is very inspiring for trainees, and I’m now really looking forward to the next stage of my career at LCF Law.”

Managing partner, Ragan Montgomery, said: “We pride ourselves on supporting and nurturing the legal industry’s future talent through both the traditional university route and our apprenticeship programme.

“We’re very pleased to see Holly, Jonathan and Melanie complete their training months ahead of schedule and join so many other talented solicitors who have completed their qualifications with us.”

:::

From left, Irene Tom, Kristian Bailey, Darren Tubb, Jason Smith, Andy Walker and (front) Alex Robinson

Compliance specialist, Inspectas, has made six new appointments from trainee to board level, bolstering its team’s property expertise.

The West Yorkshire-based business, which moved into larger premises and marked its 10th anniversary last year, has brought in fire, equipment, lab, asbestos and business development professionals taking its multi-disciplinary team to 56.

Management board director Andy Walker joins to support the company’s strategic growth, business development manager Jason Smith has been appointed to boost client support and new business streams, Irene Tom joins as assistant laboratory manager, Darren Tubb as senior consultant (fire), Kristian Bailey joins as senior asbestos and framework manager and Alex Robinson joins as a trainee analyst surveyor.

The new appointments bring a further eight decades of compliance expertise into the business, which has a portfolio of more than 150 clients in sectors including education, healthcare, retail, construction and industrial.

Director and co-founder, Matthew Fahy, said: “We are experiencing a rapid period of growth thanks to a series of new contracts in specialist housing, education, local government and the energy sector.

“Legislative requirements for building compliance is non-negotiable but can be a minefield for businesses to navigate. 

“Many organisations are looking for external expertise and as our client base increases, we are investing in the very best practitioners to help deliver our specialist services and provide advice, guidance and a safe pair of hands from fire risk assessments to asbestos management.

“We’re pleased to welcome Andy, Jason, Irene, Darren, Kristian and Alex into the Inspectas family.

“It’s fantastic to provide opportunities for new starters in our industry while also attracting seasoned professionals who bring the technical knowledge to strengthen our offering even more.”

:::

Chartered accounting and business advisory firm, Saffery, has strengthened its Yorkshire team with 12 new graduate and school leaver trainees.

This follows a record intake of 14 trainees last year.

Based across four departments – audit, accounts, corporate tax and personal tax – the new appointments take the total team number at the firm’s Yorkshire office to 84.

The trainees will all undertake a series of qualification pathways that will take between two and four years.

Audit director, Michelle Rapson, said: “We are hugely committed to investing in the next generation of talent and each new member of the team brings fresh perspectives and ideas.

“It’s an exciting time to join Saffery, as we embark on the next chapter with our expansion into new offices in Leeds.

“We pride ourselves on being a firm that supports opportunity and promotes success, and this will only be strengthened by our new work environment.”

Fergus Watson-West, who is a manager in the corporate tax team, said: “Appealing to a diverse range of candidates is important to us and it helps attract individuals who are genuinely interested in what we do.

“One way we have broadened our reach is by increasing our presence at school career events, and we are delighted by the high calibre of talent that has come through this year.”

Saffery has had a base in Harrogate town centre since 1992 and the firm recently revealed that its 84-strong Yorkshire team will be expanding into Leeds later this year, after signing a lease on new offices at Wellington Place.

:::

Legal director, Gemma Sherbourne, has joined the Employment team at Leeds-based Tyr Law.

She will working with Matthew Yates and brings 20 years of experience in providing advice for a variety of clients from small owner-managed businesses through to large national PLCs. 

Sherbourne deals with the full range of both contentious and non-contentious issues, including defending Employment Tribunal claims and providing support in relation to TUPE issues on business sales and restructuring, as well as drafting and advising on restrictive covenants and other contractual documentation and providing day-to-day advice.

Her clients are based all over Yorkshire and beyond. She said she has chosen to move to Tyr to reconnect with her clients in a way that she didn’t feel was possible when working at a national law firm. 

She said: “Having worked with many of the team at Tyr in the past, it is a delight to be working with them again at this exciting time.

“I am really looking forward to reconnecting with existing clients and contacts and getting to know new ones, both in the Yorkshire market and beyond.”

Founding partner, Dean Jowett, added: “The Employment team has gone from strength-to-strength with the recruitment of Gemma.

“Her emphasis on the personal relationship and getting back to real connections aligns with the culture at Tyr.

“Building the relationship and rapport with clients is at the heart of the firm, so Gemma joining was a clear and natural fit.”