Appointments: Gateley, Business Growth Fund, Guest Walker & Co

LAW firm Gateley is expanding is Leeds office with the appointment of David Armitage and Tamanna Keir.

Mr Armitage joins the firm’s corporate team as a partner, whilst Ms Keir joins as a solicitor in the department.

Mr Armitage has focused on cross-border mergers & acquisitions, UK inward and outward corporate investments, industrial and commercial corporate finance and capital markets work and led the expansion Hammonds’ international operations and offices before joining Cobbetts in 2010, and joined Gateley Plc from DWF in September.

The firm opened its Leeds office in January 2012,and has grown from a team of seven in 2012 to more than 40.

William Ballmann, corporate recovery partner and head of Gateley’s Leeds office, commented: “These appointments are key as we look to further develop and grow our presence in Leeds.

“Attracting high calibre candidates to the Leeds office has been a key strategy for developing the regional operation whilst also being an asset to the firm nationally.

 “The expertise we have within our team, both nationally and regionally, means we are well equipped to advise our clients on any eventuality.”

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THE Business Growth Fund has added to its Leeds team with the appointment of Rob Johnson.

He joins the 60-strong team at BGF from Deloitte where he worked across mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and restructuring.

is continuing to expand its team across the North of England with the appointment of Rob Johnson who will be based in the firm’s Leeds office.

Andy Gregory, BGF’s regional director for the North, North Wales and Northern Ireland said: “Rob’s appointment gives us additional coverage to evaluate and complete even more investment opportunities in Yorkshire and the North East following what has been a particularly active period in these regions.”

BGF draws from its £2.5bn investment pot, and has backed 20 businesses across the North of England including Chemoxy, Cussins and Altec Engineering in the North East and Xercise4less, Moda in Pelle and VTL in Yorkshire.

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YORK solicitors Guest Walker & Co have expanded their residential team with the appointment of Paula Simpson.

She qualified as a licensed conveyancer in 2005 after completing a law degree, and has worked in a number of firms in Leeds and York and on a voluntary basis for the York and District Citizens Advice Bureau.

John Walker, senior partner at Guest Walker & Co said: “We are delighted to welcome Paula as we continue to expand here in York city centre. Her wealth of experience is very impressive and she will make a great addition to our already very successful residential conveyancing team. In an age when conveyancing is often carried out through faceless, automated case management systems that people find hard to relate to, we feel that our clients really appreciate the personal, human touch and that is the direction that we’ve decided to go.”

Ms Simpson commented: “I am delighted to be joining Guest Walker & Co at this exciting time in their development and to be working as part of the conveyancing team representing the diverse range of clients that the firm acts for.”