People: LCF Law; Shakespeare Martineau; Yorkshire County Cricket Club; and more
Yorkshire law firm LCF Law has made five appointments across its Leeds and Bradford offices, including three aspiring solicitors who will now embark on the firm’s acclaimed solicitor training programme.
In Leeds, the firm has recruited Jenna Leach as a legal executive in its corporate team, alongside two new paralegals with Matthew Griffiths joining the personal law division and Hannah O’Reilly in the commercial litigation team.
It has made a double appointment in its Bradford office, with solicitor Emily Bailey joining its specialist conveyancing arm, which is known as LCF Residential, and Anouska Seedheeyan has been appointed as a paralegal in the real estate division.
Bailey qualified as a solicitor earlier this year after spending more than four years as a paralegal and trainee solicitor at a Leeds legal practice. Leach previously worked as a paralegal at two other Yorkshire firms before moving to LCF Law.
The three paralegals all have law degrees and have passed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
They will now complete two years’ qualifying work experience consisting of four six-month seats in different departments across the firm.
LCF Law has recruited 26 new team members since the start of the year, bringing its total headcount to 149 across its offices in Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Ilkley.
Ragan Montgomery, managing partner, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Emily, Jenna, Matthew, Anouska and Hannah into our team at such pivotal moments in their careers.
“Both Emily and Jenna have several years’ experience behind them and are now stepping up to new roles in their preferred fields, which is always exciting.
“In addition, the paralegals will play an important role in our firm, providing essential casework support, conducting legal research and preparing legal documents alongside their experienced colleagues and partners to streamline operations and client communications.
“Our solicitor training contracts are hugely popular and dozens of successful solicitors have completed our programme, which offers comprehensive, hands-on experience across our divisions including corporate, disputes, personal and real estate law.”
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Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has strengthened its regulatory practice in Sheffield, with its team growing from one to four people in just over 12 months amid rising demand for specialist regulatory advice.
Since partner Kamal Chauhan joined the firm in May 2025 to establish and lead its regulatory practice, the Sheffield-based team has developed a national client base, advising businesses and individuals on complex regulatory, investigatory and enforcement matters across a broad range of sectors.
The team’s growth has been driven by the appointments of regulatory partner Lyn Dario in January 2026, followed by legal director Marie Bourke and paralegal Alesha Tong in May 2026.
Chauhan, who joined from Knights, has more than 20 years’ experience advising on high-profile and complex regulatory matters.
His expertise spans environmental law, climate change and energy regulation, health and safety, financial services regulation, professional misconduct, product liability and judicial review – acting for clients across sectors including heavy industry, energy, healthcare, financial services, real estate, utilities, and sports and entertainment.
Dario brings extensive expertise in environmental, health and safety and wider business regulation.
She advises clients on matters including environmental permitting, waste regulation, trading standards investigations, product safety, food safety, competition issues and ICO investigations – acting for businesses across sectors including construction, manufacturing, rail, and food and drink.
Bourke further strengthens the team’s contentious regulatory capability, advising organisations and individuals on complex investigations and disputes involving allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering and wider regulatory breaches.
Her experience includes successfully challenging an HMRC decision denying almost £1m in input tax during a VAT investigation, as well as advising a provider of children’s accommodation facing regulatory scrutiny where no further action was taken.
Tong joined as a paralegal after graduating from the University of Sheffield and is helping deliver the team’s growing caseload of complex regulatory matters.
Chauhan said: “Since joining Shakespeare Martineau, my ambition has been to build a regulatory practice that combines technical excellence with a practical understanding of the challenges businesses and individuals face in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
“The growth of our Sheffield team reflects both the demand we’re seeing for specialist regulatory advice and our commitment to building a practice that supports clients through every stage of the regulatory process.
“Regulatory issues rarely sit in isolation – they often involve legal, operational, commercial and reputational considerations.
“By bringing together specialists with experience across different areas of regulation, we can provide clients with joined-up advice that helps them navigate these challenges with confidence.
“I’m pleased with the calibre of the team we’ve built. Lyn, Marie and Alesha each bring complementary expertise, and together we’re continuing to develop a practice that supports clients locally and nationally across an increasingly broad range of regulatory issues.”
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The Yorkshire County Cricket Club Ltd has added additional expertise to its board of directors with the proposed appointments of three new non-executive directors, including a former Club Captain.
Yorkshire County Cricket Club is strengthening its Board with the appointments of three new Non-Executive Directors, including former Club Captain, Steven Patterson.
Steven Patterson, Karen Birch and Kate Nicholls OBE are set to join the Board on initial terms of three years, with the appointments being subject to confirmation by members pursuant to a vote at the next AGM.
Patterson is a former professional cricketer who spent his entire playing career with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, winning back-to-back County Championships in 2014 and 2015 and serving as club captain from 2018 to 2022.
Since retiring from the game in 2022, he has built a career in property development and investment.
Birch is currently a pro vice-chancellor at the University of Leeds, a role focused on enhancing academic excellence and financial sustainability.
Having previously been the executive dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, her academic area of work relates to the impact of exercise upon physiological markers of health in women throughout the lifespan and how all physical activity can impact health and wellbeing.
Nicholls is an experienced adviser to companies in the hospitality, tourism and leisure industries.
She is chair of UKHospitality, having previously served as CEO and led the trade body through the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis.
She is also executive chair of the Institute of Licensing, a member of the government’s Visitor Economy and Hospitality Councils and the Food & Farming Board, as well as chair of Liverpool’s Experience Campus and a non-executive director at University Hospital Tees.
Colin Graves, chair of Yorkshire Cricket, said: “Yorkshire is in an important period of transformation, and we want a Board with the breadth of experience and perspective to support the club’s ambitions.
“Strong governance is fundamental to that, with the Board managing and overseeing the activities of the club by providing both support and challenge to the executive team.
“Steven, Karen and Kate bring a diverse blend of first-class experience across elite sport, business, government relations, hospitality and Yorkshire’s civic institutions.
“Karen and Kate operate at the highest level in their respective fields, while Steven brings a deep understanding of Yorkshire Cricket, a winning mentality and the perspective of someone who has represented and captained this club with distinction.
The appointments come as Yorkshire Cricket begins delivering Chasing Glory, its new 10-year strategy to return Yorkshire to the top of the game.
Patterson said: “Yorkshire Cricket is in my blood. Captaining the club was the proudest achievement of my career and I’m incredibly proud to now have the opportunity to contribute at Board level.
“As a player and captain, I saw first-hand the difference that outstanding leadership and culture can make.
“Now, having focused on my businesses since retiring, I’m keen to combine this experience with my knowledge of the game to help Yorkshire build a successful, inclusive and sustainable future so the club can thrive for generations to come.”
Birch said: “This is a pivotal moment for Yorkshire Cricket and one where the Board has an important responsibility to provide support and challenge as the club considers its future direction.
“Having worked at the University of Leeds for many years, I recognise the role anchor institutions play in the county and the responsibility we have to invest, connect and inspire.
“As I join the Board, I will draw on my experience of strategic and values-led leadership to help the club shape its future.”
Nicholls added: “As a lifelong cricket fan returning home to live in Yorkshire, I’m proud to be joining the Board.
“My background in the leisure and hospitality industries will help me advise the club as it develops world-class facilities and experiences for members, spectators, players and visitors.
“I’m also keen to support the club in its commitment to serve communities and ensure those who come through the pathway reflect the diversity of the county.”
Subject to confirmation of the appointments of Patterson, Birch and Nicholls at the club’s next AGM, Yorkshire Cricket’s Board comprises the following:
- Colin Graves CBE – chair
- Ian Townsend – member-nominated non-executive director and deputy chair
- Sanjay Patel MBE – group CEO
- Sanjeev Gandhi – non-executive director
- Katherine Sciver-Brunt – non-executive director
- Jane Ellison – non-executive director
- Karen Birch – non-executive director
- Kate Nicholls – non-executive director
- Steven Patterson – non-executive director
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Wakefield-based executive recruitment firm, Main-Board, has appointed Rhyanne Ward as associate director, further strengthening its capability to support organisations with senior leadership and board-level appointments.
Ward brings more than 20 years of experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, national account management and business leadership.
Throughout her career, she has worked with business leaders to help them navigate talent challenges, build high-performing teams and achieve their growth ambitions.
She has invested significantly in her professional development, completing qualifications across leadership, management, workplace coaching, recruitment, business management and marketing.
Prior to joining Main-Board, she founded and led her own business, where she supported clients with strategic hiring and talent acquisition solutions.
In her new role, she will work alongside Julian Woodman in partnership with organisations to understand their people, leadership and business challenges, while building strong relationships with senior leaders and developing high-quality talent networks.
Ward said “After meeting with the directors and hearing about the vision for Main-Board, I was genuinely excited by the opportunity.
“The ambition for the business, combined with the chance to contribute to its continued growth and success, made it feel like the perfect next step for me.
“I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and play a role in delivering high-impact leadership appointments.
“I’m looking forward to building meaningful relationships with clients and candidates and helping organisations identify individuals who can make a lasting impact.”
Main-Board forms part of Nicholas Associates Group, which supports organisations with talent management solutions across the entire career journey, from apprentice to boardroom.
As the group’s executive search specialist, Main-Board plays an integral role in this offering, helping organisations identify and secure the senior leadership talent they need to achieve their strategic ambitions.
Paul Brammer, director at Nicholas Associates Group, added: “Rhyanne’s appointment is a fantastic addition to the Main-Board team.
“Her breadth of experience, entrepreneurial background and consultative approach align perfectly with the values of our business.
“Main-Board is our executive search offering and plays an important role at the senior end of the talent journey. Rhyanne’s experience and approach will help us continue to strengthen that capability, build lasting relationships with clients and candidates, and support organisations with the leadership talent they need to grow and succeed.”
