People: Switalskis; Chadwick Lawrence; Fletchers Solicitors; and more

Yorkshire-based Switalskis has welcomed injury specialist Sam McFadyen as senior solicitor to its brain and spinal injury team, as part of a strategic expansion of the department.

McFadyen joins as a senior associate with over 25 years of experience in high-value, complex personal injury litigation, most recently leading the serious injury team at a law firm in Hull.

His extensive experience includes complex claims involving brain and spinal cord injuries, fatalities, polytrauma and amputations.

Switalskis’ brain and spinal injury team now comprises six legal specialists, working across the UK to deliver tailored support for clients and families affected by life-changing injuries.

McFadyen said: “Switalskis is known for its high-quality, client-focused approach to brain and spinal injury work, and that really aligns with how I’ve always practised.

“The team is dedicated to delivering a bespoke holistic service to their clients and achieving the best possible outcomes to support recovery and help clients and their families rebuild their lives.

“I’m excited to join such a collaborative and experienced team and to contribute to its growth, by leading cases and supporting the department’s wider development.”

His appointment supports a development strategy led by Mark Hollinghurst, director and joint head of the personal injury department at Switalskis.

Hollinghurst added: “Sam’s appointment is part of our growth plan for the brain and spinal injury team.

“Bringing in a senior lawyer of Sam’s calibre ensures we continue to deliver the high-quality, client-centred service we’re known for while having additional expertise that will support our future plans.

“His empathetic approach, calm and friendly manner, and experience in both casework and team leadership made him a natural choice for us.

“He’s clearly like-minded and his skills complement those of our existing team. We’re really pleased to have Sam on board.”

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Yorkshire law firm, Chadwick Lawrence, has promoted five fee earning team members, as it looks to build on its success entering the new financial year.

Julia Wilding is promoted to salaried partner, wills and probate. Having qualified as a solicitor in 1997, she has 28 years of experience in private client work.

She has been with Chadwick Lawrence for nine years, specialising in wills, probate and trust work covering the Wakefield area.

Katherine Booth-Law has been promoted to associate solicitor, also in the wills and probate department.

She qualified in 2016 and specialises in wills, powers of attorney and probate matters, having worked in the field for six years.

Chadwick Lawrence has made three further promotions across its employment, corporate and contracts, and real estate teams.

Sunnia Khaliq has been promoted to associate solicitor in the employment team. She has an extensive legal background, dealing with an array of legal matters, and specialists in employment law working on both contentious and non-contentious work.

Prior to joining the firm in April 2023, she worked in top-tier law firms in Manchester where she completed her degree and master’s in law.

Gaia Hinchliffe has progressed to associateship within the corporate and commercial department.

She joined Chadwick Lawrence in 2017 and has developed a strong legal foundation at the firm, with a particular focus on both corporate transactions and commercial contracts.

She is bilingual in Italian and English, and oftens supports the firm’s translation needs to enhance its service to a broad customer base.

Vicky Sneddon has been promoted to associate conveyancer within Chadwick Lawrence’s home and property department, with 15 years’ experience working in conveyancing.

Having started her career as a re-mortgage post completion assistant, she has worked her way up to team leader and leads the firm’s office in Bradford.

Neil Wilson, managing partner, said: “Our fee earner promotions are always a significant event in the calendar, and I am pleased to congratulate Julia, Katherine, Sunnia, Gaia and Vicky on their respective promotions.

“As a firm, we are committed to nurturing our team through personalised development programmes, and these progressions are testament to their hard work to support the firm’s ongoing growth.”

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Fletchers Solicitors, a personal injury and clinical negligence law firm, has appointed Angela Dobbs as its new partner and head of personal injury (EL/PL) in its Leeds office.

With over 20 years of experience in personal injury law, Dobbs joins from Express Solicitors, where she led a team, as well as managed her own caseload of criminal injuries, employers’ liability, occupiers and public liability, and road traffic claims.

With a deep understanding of personal injury claims, she has handled a wide spectrum of cases, including road traffic collisions, workplace accidents, public liability claims, animal-related injuries, and criminal injury compensation cases.

She has significant experience in high-value and catastrophic injury cases, including those involving amputations, brain and spinal injuries, historical sexual abuse, and fatal accidents.

Dobbs has led high-profile claims that have shaped legal precedents and contributed to significant legal developments.

In her new role, she will lead the continued development of the Employers’ Liability and Public Liability division of personal injury practice, supporting both the firm’s strategic goals and its commitment to client care.

Victoria Marsden, director of personal injury, said: “I am pleased to welcome Angela as our newest head of personal injury.

“Angela’s extensive knowledge, experience, and tireless dedication to client care, make her a tremendous asset to our team and the clients that we serve.

“We are thrilled to have her on board. Her expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to grow and strengthen our personal injury offering across the UK.”

Dobbs added: “I’m excited to join Fletchers Solicitors at such a pivotal time, as it continues to grow and deliver exceptional results for clients.

“The firm’s client-first approach and strong track record align perfectly with my values, and I look forward to helping shape the future of the personal injury team.”

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Sheffield-based AI company, IntelliAM, has appointed Dr Keith Harris as its non-executive director and chairman-elect, as the firm continues to scale its AI-powered solutions across global industrial sectors.

Harris will formally take on the role of non-executive chairman from 1 July 2025.

He is a highly regarded investment banker and corporate strategist with over 35 years of experience advising on complex cross-border M&A, equity and debt capital markets transactions, and corporate leadership.

He has held senior roles at Morgan Grenfell, Drexel Burnham, and served as chief executive of HSBC Investment Bank.

Harris was also the principal owner and chairman of Seymour Pierce Holdings and has held a number of high-profile board positions, including chairman of Wembley National Stadium, and the Football League.

He currently serves as chairman of NASDAQ-listed gene therapy company MeiraGTx and executive chairman of Global Connectivity Plc, quoted on AQSE.

Tom Clayton, CEO of IntelliAM, said: “Keith’s extraordinary track record in capital markets and board leadership will bring enormous value to IntelliAM as we deepen our relationships with institutional investors and pursue our strategic growth initiatives.”

Harris added: “IntelliAM is delivering real transformation in a vital sector through the intelligent application of AI.

“I look forward to working with Tom and the board to support the company’s ambitions and help realise its significant market potential.”

The news follows a trio of appointments to the AI firm’s leadership team – seeing Jane Robinson join as VP of business development, Ian Wild as VP of product, and Owain Lewis as VP of data engineering.

IntelliAM specialises in artificial intelligence and machine learning for the manufacturing sector.