People: Wrigleys Solicitors; Sovereign Health Care; Fox Lloyd Jones; and more

Leeds and Sheffield-based Wrigleys Solicitors has made a key senior hire within its charities and social economy team.

The appointment of Nicola Evans as senior charities counsel comes in response to growing demand for specialist advice from one of the country’s only dedicated charities and social economy departments.

Evans brings a wealth of experience to Wrigleys. In 1996, she qualified as a charity and trusts lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills before moving to BDB Pitmans, where she was the firm’s first knowledge lawyer for its charity team.

Among her numerous external roles, she served on the Charity Law Association (CLA) committee between 2008 and 2020 and as its chair between 2016 and 2019.

She has also worked on and chaired various working parties to respond to relevant consultations, including chairing the working party that responded to the Law Commission’s consultation, ‘Technical Issues in Charity Law 2015’.

In addition, she liaised and consulted with the Law Commission on an ongoing basis in the run-up to the Charities Bill introduced in Parliament in 2021, which became the Charities Act 2022, and gave evidence to the Parliamentary Special Committee.

She regularly works with the Charity Tax Group (CTG), a national organisation that campaigns for the sector, improves understanding, and seeks to secure a fair tax deal for charities.

Evans said: “Wrigleys has built an impressive reputation within the field of charities law, and I’ve always admired their work.

“It’s clear from the growing team and impressive client roster that the department will continue to go from strength-to-strength, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the journey.”

Wrigleys’ joint head of charities and social economy, Clare Lawrence, said: “Nicola’s experience will further enhance the firm’s existing quality offering and ability to navigate the complex regulatory and operating landscape for charities and ensure that we continue to offer comprehensive support to our clients.”

Elizabeth Wilson, also joint head of charities and social economy, added: “Nicola is a true charity law expert. Her knowledge is second to none, and she will bring huge value to not only our clients and department but the firm as a whole. We’re honoured to have her on board.”

:::

West Yorkshire-based health care cash plan provider, Sovereign Health Care, has appointed Keith Hinds as its new chair, subject to regulatory approval being received.

Hinds, who joined the Sovereign Board as a non-executive director in January 2020, will succeed previous chair, Jan Fortune, who has stepped down from the Board after almost four years as chair and nine years on the Board.

Neil McCallum, chief executive, said: “On behalf of the Board and the entire Sovereign team, I would like to thank Jan for her leadership and counsel over the last few years. She has helped steer Sovereign through challenging times and she will be missed.

“I’ve worked closely with Keith since I joined Sovereign in late 2023 and am happy that he is now stepping into the chair role.

“This is a pivotal time for Sovereign as we start an exciting transformation phase for the business, which will see us evolve into a dynamic and innovative company.

“Keith’s experience will be vital in steering this change, making sure we provide even more value and service for our customers and continue to serve the health needs of the people of West Yorkshire.”

Hinds is an experienced commercial Chartered Accountant, operating at a senior level in corporate restructuring, pensions advisory and as a professional pension trustee.

His career has spanned more than 45 years, with leadership roles at several of the UK’s largest accountancy firms, including more than 16 years as a partner at Grant Thornton and two years as a partner at Ernst and Young.

Along with his non-executive director role at Sovereign, Hinds is a professional trustee for Dalriada Trustees Ltd, which provides professional trusteeship services to pension schemes.

Hinds said: “Sovereign’s services are more relevant than ever as people focus increasingly on health and wellbeing, but often require support to access the services they need.

“I am excited to step into the chair role, working with Neil and the Board to build on what we already have and unlock new potential for Sovereign, its customers and local communities.”

:::

Leeds-based property and construction advisor, Fox Lloyd Jones (FLJ), has appointed Bethan McMurrough as a senior surveyor, to support the growth of its agency and development team.

McMurrough has extensive experience in the property sector and joins the Leeds-based FLJ team after spending over three years at established London based property consultancy.

She joins FLJ following a successful period for the offices team with a growing pipeline of instructions acting for both landlords and tenants across the city.

McMurrough said: “Now is an incredibly exciting time to join Fox Lloyd Jones, as the team continues to build on its strong market presence and deliver best in class service to an impressive range of clients.

“Leeds offers a dynamic and evolving office market, and I look forward to working on some fantastic instructions alongside a highly respected team.”

Nick Salkeld, director, said: “Bethan’s arrival is a fantastic addition to the agency and development team and supports our continued growth plans.

“Bethan’s experience in the London office market brings a fresh perspective and adds a new dynamic.

“We’re looking forward to her experience and expertise in supporting our clients and further enhancing our position in the Leeds office market.”

:::

Steve Hinshelwood

Sheffield-headquartered law firm, Taylor Emmet, is celebrating a total of 40 promotions, the highest-ever number of employee promotions, including Oliver Simpson as head of private wealth, Kat May as divisional head, and Amy Harris as head of property litigation.

Additionally, head of quality, risk and compliance, Dawn Hague, has been appointed as a director, while four promotions have been made to partner positions, including Ian Osborn, Sam Sims, Helen Millard, and Elizabeth Alderson.

Across the firm, six employees have been promoted to senior associate positions and six to associate roles.

The firm has also promoted four members of its support team to senior manager level, across HR, Marketing, Finance and Client Services.

Further promotions across the business include legal executives, paralegals, legal administration, legal assistants and support assistants.

Steve Hinshelwood, CEO, said: “We are extremely proud to announce this round of promotions within the firm, the highest number we have awarded, reflecting how we nurture and develop exceptional talent.

“These promotions exemplify our commitment to supporting our people at every stage of their professional development.

“Each of these talented individuals has made outstanding contributions to the firm’s success, and I have every confidence they will continue to grow and excel in their new roles.”

Sharna Poxon, HR director, added: “Our culture focuses on nurturing employees and supporting progression, and this record achievement demonstrates our commitment to developing our people and recognising their hard work.

“These promotions represent the success of our Talent Enhancement Programme, which is designed to help individuals achieve their aspirations while supporting the future growth and development of Taylor Emmet.”