Appointments: Property specialist with wide range of experience joins firm of solicitors

Solicitor Heather Roberts brings expertise in a wide range of commercial property matters.

She has worked for leading national and regional firms and has experience of sales and purchases, landlord and tenant matters, asset management, development and property litigation.

Law firm Ward Hadaway has promoted employment lawyer Gemma Sherbourne to the position of associate.

Ms Sherbourne, who is based at the firm’s office in Leeds, is a member of Ward Hadaway’s employment law team where she provides advice for clients including charities, small businesses and large national Plcs.

Chartered surveyor Eddisons has made a number of promotions.

The firm, which has offices in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield, has promoted Antony Bailey (machinery and business assets), Paul Brustad (banking and insolvency), Jonathan O’Connor (agency), Robert Limbert (auctions) and David Wood (building and project consultancy) to associate directors.

Independent care provider the HICA Group has appointed Matthew Rockett to the newly-created position of finance director as the group gears itself up for a programme of expansion.

Mr Rockett joins the Hull-based firm after five years with Aghoco 1022, the holding company of the Beverley-based Chem-Dry Group.

HICA plans to create 2,000 new jobs in the next five years and more than double turnover from its current figure of £31m.

Betafence, the country’s largest maker of wire and fencing products, has promoted Paul Barkas to the role of UK manufacturing manager at its factory in Sheffield.

Mr Barkas was previously the factory’s operations manager for Base Products, the department where steel rod is turned into wire.

W H Ireland has appointed Jonathan Downes as an investment manager

He joins the firm’s Leeds office from stockbroker James Brearley & Sons, where he was the Leeds branch manager. He has particular expertise in discretionary and managed advisory portfolios including ISAs and self-invested personal pension plans.

Jones Lang LaSalle has appointed James Laidler as a senior surveyor in its national healthcare team based in Leeds. He has joined from Taylors Business Surveyors and has 12 years’ professional experience.

Property agency Colliers International has expanded its building consultancy team with the appointment of Alison Jackson.

Ms Jackson, who previously worked for Craven District Council, joins the firm’s Leeds office as graduate building surveyor.