People: YPO; arch.law; Andrew Jackson Solicitors; and more

Wakefield-based public sector buying organisation, YPO, has enhanced its communications team with the appointment of Kay Brown as its new senior brand & communications manager.

She brings extensive expertise in PR, communications and digital marketing, having worked across both in-house and agency environments.

During her career, she has managed PR campaigns and press office functions for prominent consumer brands, while also overseeing influencer campaigns, public affairs and events.

Most recently, she spent five years at the global PR firm, Grayling, progressing from account manager to senior account director within the Northern team.

She will oversee YPO’s PR, public affairs and communications strategies, working with the wider organisation to boost brand visibility and increase media exposure.

Her role also includes the management of strategic partnerships, including YPO’s charity partnership with national children’s charity, NSPCC.

Brown said: “I’m thrilled to join YPO and help shine a light on the fantastic work we do for the public sector, communities and the young learners in nurseries and schools who benefit from our products and services.

“My career trajectory was heavily influenced by a communications role opportunity at Leeds International Film Festival back in 2010.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be back in the public sector building and enhancing partnerships that make a difference to local communities.”

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Leeds-based legal business, arch.law, has bolstered its senior leadership team with the appointment of Beth Livesey to chief marketing officer (CMO), a newly created role.

Livesey brings extensive experience from her previous role at global legal and business provider DWF, where she has spent the last six years as its senior digital manager.

During her time there, she led a team executing DWF’s global digital strategy across 18 countries which included nine acquisitions.

Prior to DWF, she served as an associate and digital marketing manager at JMW Solicitors.

With over 15 years of experience in legal marketing she will play a key role in arch.law’s senior team to build the brand, drive revenue and focus on client and member experience.

She said: “I’m joining arch.law at a key time in its growth and am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Andrew Leaitherland again and the wider team.

“I am highly values driven and see strong alignment with arch.law’s direction in delivering its client offering differently.

“The legal market is changing and we want to be at the heart delivering exceptional legal solutions with best in class members.”

Her appointment to the senior management team follows the recent addition of Victoria Skidmore, who joined as chief financial officer in July from Conexus Law, and Jonathan Patterson who joined from DWF as chief operating officer 12 months ago.

arch.law is also recruiting for a head of compliance and head of finance to further strengthen its strategic capabilities.

Andrew Leaitherland, founder and CEO, said: “Beth joins at a pivotal time for the business. Her skillset, value-driven approach and experience is second to none in the professional services sector.

“She will play a crucial role in our senior management team, which we have strategically invested in as we strive to provide a seamless and enhanced service to clients whilst expanding our member base.

“The next 12 months will see arch.law further solidify its position. We will continue to enable firms, teams or individuals to transition smoothly into our model, allowing them to focus on growing their business while leaving behind the challenges of running a regulated law firm.”

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From left, Richard Hoare and George Lyall

Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors has welcomed George Lyall, a highly experienced private client specialist, as a partner.

With over 40 years’ experience in advising high net worth individuals alongside their private and charitable trusts, Lyall has particular expertise in capital tax and estate planning. 

He has extensive experience of advising high net worth individuals, having spent nearly 25 years as a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson.  

Lyall, who joins Andrew Jackson from private investment office Traditum, initially qualified as a Scottish solicitor before joining global firm EY, where he qualified as a chartered accountant. 

He has extensive charity experience and is a trustee of the Shears Charitable Foundation, which provides grants to organisations and projects in the areas of community development, environmental, sustainable development and health & welfare and culture, primarily across the north east of England.

Lyall said: “It is great to be joining a progressive firm with such a substantial pedigree, as it celebrates its 150th year, and to be appointed as a partner in the highly regarded tax and trusts practice. 

“I’m really looking forward to working in the York office and across Yorkshire and continuing to build on the work I have established in recent years.”

Richard Hoare, partner and head of private client services at Andrew Jackson, added: “George has built an outstanding reputation as a specialist in his field and I am pleased to welcome him to our private client practice as part of our strategic plan for growth in this area.

“I know George’s commitment, knowledge and wealth of expertise will be most welcomed by our clients, as we continue to aim for providing advice of the highest quality, which is consistently recognised in our client feedback.”

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Law firm Flint Bishop has appointed banking litigation specialist Kate Hicks as partner & head of finance dispute resolution at its Leeds office.

Hicks joins from Yorkshire Building Society, where she provided legal support across the organisation.

Her career also includes senior roles at Walker Morris, Cobbetts Solicitors and DLA Piper, where she gained a national reputation for managing high-stakes litigation in property and banking law.

She brings over 20 years of litigation experience, with her specialism in the financial services property lending sector.

Her skill set encompasses a wide range of legal matters, including the Consumer Credit Act, challenges to the enforceability of credit agreements, complex regulatory issues, and title rectification to ensure lenders’ security is properly perfected.

She also has a strong track record in asset finance, unsecured recoveries, and intricate secured recovery cases, and is skilled in handling breach of mandate claims, payment by mistake claims, operational fraud cases, and contract and tort disputes for banks, building societies, and other financial institutions.

Qamer Ghafoor, chief executive at Flint Bishop, said: “Kate’s appointment is a major coup for the firm, solidifying our standing as a leading legal partner for banks, building societies, and financial institutions seeking expertise in complex financial disputes.

“Kate’s leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s future in the banking litigation and financial services offering, helping us to become a dominant force in the UK banking litigation and recoveries arena, setting the stage for accelerated growth and market leadership in the coming years.”

The appointment follows Flint Bishop’s recent acquisition of the Banking Litigation and Recoveries division from Walker Morris, as well as the opening of the firm’s new offices in Leeds last month.