This week's North East appointments

Anna McGill, Gordon Brown Law Firm

Regional law firm, Gordon Brown Law Firm LLP (GBLF) has appointed solicitor Anna McGill.

Anna, 37, joins GBLF as partner in the corporate and commercial team, which will see her focus on supporting existing and new clients in and around the region dealing with company and business sales, share capital reorganisations, investments and fundraising.

She brings with her a wealth of skills and knowledge having worked in the legal profession for 15 years.

Following her studies at Oxford University and Nottingham Law School, Anna moved to London to complete her training at a leading international law firm before qualifying into the corporate team.

Since relocating back to the region, Anna has gained 10 years’ experience at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP specialising in corporate law.

She said: “I was drawn to GBLF due to its fantastic reputation, the calibre of recruitment into the team over the last couple of years and commercial approach.

“With a growing presence in corporate work, it’s clearly a firm which is keen to evolve and move with the times.

“My role is very much a new one within the firm and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops and working closely with the team to assist in the growth of the business over the next few years.”

Stephanie Linnell, Craig Ross and Carolyn Milburn, George F. White

George F. White, the land, property and business group, has appointed three new partners as the business continues to grow.

The internal promotions, which support growth, also signify changes to the firm’s internal structure and culture since partner and operations director, Sally Hart, instructed a business review with a focus on employee retention and benefits in 2017.

Stephanie Linnell and Craig Ross, planning consultants based at the firms Alnwick branch, and Carolyn Milburn, Rural Practice Surveyor at the firms Wolsingham branch, have been promoted to partners.

Sally Hart said: “I am incredibly proud of Stephanie, Craig and Carolyn. This year, we celebrate the firms 40th birthday; a fantastic opportunity to look back at our journey, and, most importantly, look towards our future.

“Our people-led ethos has provided the ideal environment for individuals to grow and lead as members of our management team.”

Lisa Fleming, Stephen Gosnay, Sharon Hutchinson and Ben Healey, Aycliffe Business Park Community

The Aycliffe Business Park Community (ABPC) has been boosted with the appointment of four new members.

The original 11 board members were appointed when ABPC was first incorporated in the summer of 2016, however some members left the organisation due to other commitments.

The board of directors is now back up to 11, with the arrival of Lisa Fleming, Stephen Gosnay, Sharon Hutchinson and Ben Healey.

Lisa is managing director of Aycliffe-based recruitment agency Driver Hire Darlington, Stephen is key account manager at Newton Press, Sharon is operations director of law firm Endeavour Partnership and Ben is a partner in law firm Greystone Legal.

Chair Kerina said: “We’re delighted to have appointed four people who have demonstrated a clear desire to build on the work already achieved over the last few years.

“Our key mission statement is to develop, sustain and support a vibrant and diverse business park community to contribute to an environment where businesses can grow and develop and to support businesses with opportunities to promote and gain information related to their business.

“We’ve already achieved a great deal, but we believe ABPC is yet to fulfil its full potential, and we’re excited about the opportunity to make further progress with the help of the four new board members.”

Deven Vedhera, Deloitte

Business advisory firm, Deloitte has strengthened its senior audit team in the region with the promotion of Deven Vedhera to director.

Newcastle-born Deven has been with Deloitte for 11 years. He specialises in audit services to the private equity sector, working with portfolio companies and private equity houses across the North East and Nationally.

He has worked on a range of transactions and IPOs. Deven said: “I thrive off the transactional nature of private equity, along with the fast-moving and ever-changing challenges and demands that it brings,” he said.

“We have a growing reputation in that sector, and in my new role I’m looking forward to helping the team take advantage of our market-leading offering and to help businesses through their investment life-cycle.”

Leigh Ferguson and Nazia Aftab, Jacksons

Law firm, Jacksons has appointed two new legal solicitors.

Associate solicitor, Leigh Ferguson joins Jacksons’ dispute resolution, corporate recovery and insolvency team working alongside partner Stephen Wiles and Toby Joel.

Leigh graduated from Teesside University in 1997 and returns to Teesside after spending 14 years with a Newcastle law firm and two years with another firm in the Tees Valley.

Jacksons also welcomes Nazia Aftab, as a consultant in its employment department, who has 17 years of experience of advising clients in the charity, professional services, digital and retail sectors on all areas of employment law including restructuring, terms and conditions, executive terminations, disciplinary and grievance issues.

She is working with partner and head of employment Paul Clark and his team in Teesside and Newcastle.

Geoff Skeoch, senior partner said: “I am delighted to welcome our new arrivals to Jacksons as the firm continues to grow.

“We’re off to a good start in 2019 with the appointment of both Nazia and Leigh and I look forward to working with them.

“There are plans in place for further expansion for the firm this year, which is great news for Jacksons and for job creation in the region.”

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