This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Leeds-based Clarion has expanded its eight-strong banking and finance team with the appointment of Philip Dine as legal director, specialising in real estate finance.

Philip has experience of acting for both funders and borrowers with a key focus on financing commercial property portfolios, development finance transactions and working in the private rental sector.

Philip commented: “I am really excited to be joining Clarion as I believe that my ethos of client service and being committed to getting the job done, whichever side of the fence I am on and whatever the type of transaction, fits well with the team’s approach.

“Clarion have established a great reputation for their expertise in banking and finance and I look forward to further strengthening the team’s growing reputation.”

Marie Pugh, who heads up Clarion’s banking and finance team, added: “We have built a strong team with specialist expertise in all aspects of banking and finance matters that continues to go from strength to strength.

“Philip’s pragmatic and commercial approach, enthusiasm and technical ability makes him a natural fit as we continue to expand our offering in the market.”

Claudia Gilham, Ellie Foster and Linda Nawoj, Mills & Reeve

National law firm Mills & Reeve has made three appointments to its Leeds family team.

The team has welcomed back Ellie Foster as a principal associate. Ellie was one of the original members that left Addleshaw Goddard to set up the Leeds family team at Mills & Reeve in 2008. Following her departure in 2012, Ellie worked at Harrogate Family Law.

Joining the team as a senior associate is Claudia Gilham. Claudia also previously worked at Harrogate Family law where she was an associate solicitor.

Claudia was also recently made chair of the West and North Yorkshire Young Resolution Committee. Resolution is a community of family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way.

Ellie and Claudia advise on all aspects of matrimonial law, cohabitation and children matters.

Also returning to the family team is legal secretary Linda Nawoj. Linda, who worked for Mills & Reeve from 2008 to 2011, is joining from Wrigleys.

The Leeds office has expanded its offering recently with the launch of its corporate team headed by former Irwin Mitchell partner Paul Johnson, plus partner Simon Pedley leading its move into commercial disputes.

It has also boosted the private client offering with the arrival of partner Andrew Playle from Bond Dickinson.

Philip Way, head of the Leeds office, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Claudia to the firm and former colleagues, Ellie and Linda, back into the fold.

“The expansion of our Leeds office is gathering pace and our reputation for being a great place to work is demonstrated by the number of well-regarded lawyers, who are leaders in their respected field, joining our Leeds team.”

Debra Jackson, Langleys

Law firm Langleys has boosted its family team with the appointment of newly qualified solicitor Debra Jackson.

Debra started at Langleys as a senior paralegal more than three years ago. She has now completed her training at the firm and has joined the family unit as an assistant solicitor.

Prior to Langleys, Debra gained experience in family law while working in York and is a history graduate of York University.

Mark Day, head of the family law unit at Langleys, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Debra to the team – she is a valuable addition and brings with her skills and experience to enhance the services we provide to clients.”

Liam Crowther, Adam Hall, Aimee Greenwood and Nadia Rehamn, Brewster Bye Architects

Brewster Bye Architects, the architecture practice based in Leeds, has appointed architect Adam Hall, architectural technologist Liam Crowther, architectural assistant Aimee Greenwood and interior design assistant Nadia Rehamn.

Adam studied architecture at both Manchester and Huddersfield Universities, and undertook a year’s placement within the design and conservation team at Bradford Council during his degree, where he worked on several historic building projects.

He joins from a Shipley-based architectural firm where he worked for four years on a number of projects in the commercial and leisure sectors and also specialised in the interior refurbishment of several public houses. Adam fully qualified as an architect two years ago.

Liam graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2013 and joins from a Bradford-based practice where he has spent three years gaining valuable experience working in the residential, retail and commercial sectors, he also specialised in office to apartment conversions.

Liam is currently working towards becoming chartered with The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.

Aimee completed a BA Hons Architecture Degree followed by a Master of Architecture Degree with a Distinction in 2014 at Leeds Metropolitan University. She joins from a Normanton-based architectural firm, where she spent three years working predominately on large scale private residential and student accommodation schemes.

She has also worked on a number of office to residential conversion developments, new build office schemes, and private homes. Aimee is a qualified Part II Architectural Assistant.

Interior design assistant Nadia obtained a BA Hons in interior design from Heriot Watt University. Nadia has a broad and architecturally focused range of experience, having carried out internships with Parsons Corporation LLC and Building Design Partnership (BDP).

Nadia joins Brewster Bye from another Leeds-based architectural company, to work on the interiors across the firm’s numerous commercial and residential projects.

Chris Austin, Brewster Bye’s managing director, said: “These four appointments strengthen our team and will support our ongoing growth as we continue to work on an ever-growing range of projects for our longstanding clients, as well as winning projects with new clients across the country in recent months.

“With numerous schemes at the development and planning stages, and plenty more in the pipeline Adam, Liam, Aimee and Nadia will all be very busy working on some really exciting projects.”

Eileen Stretton (pictured right), Beattie

Beattie, the creative communications group which has one of its main offices in Leeds, has appointed Eileen Stretton, former managing director at Golley Slater PR North.

The newly created client and business development director role, based in Leeds, will see Eileen join Beattie director Rachel Gladwin’s team.

Eileen was recruited directly for the position and will focus on maximising Beattie’s skills set nationally for new and existing clients.

Eileen has 18 years’ experience in PR. She began her career at Burson-Marsteller and progressed through the ranks at the Red Consultancy and Cow PR, before moving in house as head of consumer media and brand campaigns at Morrisons supermarkets.

London-headquartered, Beattie has nine offices alongside Leeds including Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and the south of England.

Rachel Gladwin said: “Many brands come to us because we are experts in creating transformational ideas that cascade from national to regional audiences and influencers.

“We are tuned in to the power of regional communications and know how to saturate every channel to give brands the edge. With the hire of a senior head, focused on these relationships, we are playing to our strengths and responding to the needs of our clients.

“Eileen’s brief is to capitalise on the runaway success of our network as we believe this is the key to our continued growth.

“Eileen’s longstanding track record of new business wins, and her passion for doing the best quality work in the region, will be a huge asset to our growing businesses, notably across Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

“The reality is that national brands are investing in communications programmes across the regions, and are not just looking for London-only agency teams. We are uniquely positioned to deliver both.”

Toni Dring, Ellis

Ellis, the North Yorkshire-based cable cleat specialist, has appointed Toni Dring as marketing executive.

Toni, who has worked in a combined sales, administrative and marketing role since joining Ellis in 2010, will now concentrate full-time on marketing.

Her new role will see her managing the company’s roster of PR, social, digital and design agencies; planning all events and exhibitions; leading communications with the company’s network of 38 international distributors; and overseeing the design and development of all company literature.

Richard Shaw, Ellis’ managing director, said: “Over the last few years Ellis and its reputation have grown enormously, and we have somehow managed the marketing side of things by bolting it on as an additional function to the jobs of those working in sales.

“But now, the business is at a size and stage where we simply can’t afford not to have a full-time marketer. And with Toni’s knowledge of Ellis, its products, customers and distributors; and her great working relationships with our external marketing suppliers; it was clear there was no one better suited to this new role than her.”

From its base in the North Yorkshire village of Rillington, Ellis operates a global operation that sees its cable cleats securing power everywhere from Kazakhstan to Australia.

Toni Dring added: “Ellis is a great company, with a great reputation and to get the opportunity to build on this in my new marketing role is an exciting and, I’m sure, career defining move.

“I’m looking forward to getting fully involved in every aspect of the marketing and helping to make sure Ellis continues to build on the successes it’s enjoyed in recent years.”

Lawrence Simpson, Cedar Retreats

Cedar Retreats, the luxury development with planning for 37 lodges in West Tanfield, north yorkshire, has appointed Lawrence Simpson as new park manager. .

With more than 30 years’ experience in the armed forces, Lawrence has worked in a number of challenging roles and will use the transferable skills that he has developed including leadership and management of staff, training and strategic teamwork, along with inventory and resource, operations, facilities and project management within his new position.

James Gawthorpe, managing director of Cedar Retreats, said: “This is a fantastic time to join Cedar Retreats as the business reports its ongoing success.

“Not only have we sold four lodges in as many months but we are also pushing forward with the next phase of the build. We are really pleased to welcome Lawrence and know that his skills will add real value to the way that we work and the service that we are able to offer.”

Lawrence commented: “The timing couldn’t have been better for me. I wanted a new challenge and this is absolutely ideal.

“I have extensive experience of managing staff and also building and nurturing the skills of a team. I look forward to starting and implementing new processes and ways of working that will mean I can make a positive difference.”

Cedar Retreats offers customers the chance to purchase a lodge which can be rented throughout the year. Available 365-days a year, the luxury lodges can achieve a return on investment of up to 9.1%.

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