Latest Appointments: Law firms Dickinson Dees, Irwin Mitchell and Schofield Sweeney appoint; Duos join Business Growth Fund and Baker Tilly

LAW firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed Kerry Smith (pictured left) as a solicitor in its commercial, charities and public sector team in its Sheffield office.

Ms Smith joins Irwin Mitchell from HLW Keeble Hawson and will advise on charity formations, public procurement, public sector grants and commercial contracts for regional and national clients.

She will work with the team’s partner, Laurence Gavin.

Mr Gavin said: “We’re pleased to welcome Kerry into our team, and hope to build on our successes in 2011 to grow further in 2012.”

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THE Business Growth Fund has appointed two new members to its team serving the north of England and Northern Ireland.

Former 3i director David Colclough and former PwC accountant Neil Inskip, who joins from ANZ Private Equity in Sydney, have been recruited by regional director Andy Gregory, who set up the Northern office of the fund in September.

The Business Growth Fund is an initiative from the major high street clearing banks and Standard Chartered to invest up to £2.5bn into firms which require between £2m and £10m of growth capital. It plans to invest in up to 40 businesses from across the UK each year.

Mr Gregory said: “It is great to welcome David and Neil to the team and to strengthen our presence in this region.”

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BAKER Tilly has bolstered its tax offering in Yorkshire with key hires for both the corporate and private client teams in its Leeds and Saltaire offices.

Associate director Chloë Ellis and manager Richard Wolk have joined the acountany firm.

Ms Ellis has joined the corporate tax team at the firm’s Whitehall Quay office in Leeds following seven years at Grant Thornton.

Mr Wolk began his career at HM Revenue and Customs, specialising in PAYE, before moving to Bradford-based accountants Naylor Wintersgill, where he worked for eight years.

He has joined Baker Tilly’s private client team in Saltaire.

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FORMER company director Sarah Rushton has joined law firm Schofield Sweeney as a partner.

Ms Rushton (pictured right) will be working with the Bradford and Leeds-based firm’s company / commercial and education and charities teams on developing legal services for businesses.

Ms Rushton previously worked at Leeds-based document management company Squirrel before it was bought out by US firm Cintas.

Chris Schofield, Senior Partner at Schofield Sweeney said: “Our corporate, banking and commercial property teams worked with Sarah on the sale of Squirrel. We were all impressed by her ability as a commercial lawyer; her business acumen generally and how well connected she was to businesses, charities and public sector bodies.”

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DICKINSON Dees has strengthened its charities practice with the appointment of Mark Ashton as a solicitor.

Mr Ashton has recently qualified into the charities practice, having completed his two-year training contract at Dickinson Dees.

He will be based at the firm’s York office until it moves to Leeds in the new year.

Ros Harwood, head of the charities and independent schools practice at Dickinson Dees said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark as a fully-fledged member of our team. His enthusiasm and commitment will be a huge asset to us.”