Head of NLP’s Leeds office new chairman of the board

Mr Gartland established the Leeds office in 2011. His new role will see him develop and help implement future growth strategies.

James Fennell, managing director of NLP, said: “Justin’s appointment is designed to align and focus NLP’s corporate growth initiatives and I’m very pleased to have him as NLP’s chairman of the board and director.

“He has an almost unmatched knowledge of the business nationally, having emerged as a director in London, managed our new Manchester office in the early 2000s and having now established our Yorkshire office in Leeds.”

Dr Malcolm Hockaday stood down as chairman and will continue as director in NLP’s London office.

Elsewhere, the Sheffield office of law firm Irwin Mitchell has added to its commercial and transactions team after appointing associate solicitor Mark Evans. Joining the team from Nabarro, he specialises in advising on all aspects of commercial contracts.

Also in the legal sector, Yorkshire law firm Schofield Sweeney has announced a series of promotions. Corporate and commercial specialists Adrian Ballam and Luisa D’Alessandro, as well as operations director Graham Sweeney have all become partners.

Since joining the firm in 2009 from Eversheds, Mr Ballam has been involved in a number of high-profile corporate acquisitions and disposals for clients based in the UK and overseas.

Ms D’Alessandro joined the firm in 2013 from Berg Legal in Manchester as director of commercial services, and since joining has led and helped develop the firm’s commercial law team. Mr Sweeney qualified as a solicitor and practised as a litigator for five years.

Having developed an interest in the use of IT within the practice, he made the move into IT management after completing an MSc in information systems.

He is now responsible for the strategic direction of IT investment within the practice.

Leeds law firm Clarion has boosted its employment team with the appointment of John Robinson, who joins the team from Eversheds, as partner.

Meanwhile, Leeds-based brand consultancy, Propaganda, has welcomed a raft of new recruits.

The five new additions to the team comprise of account director Michael Dye, project manager Paul Costello, social account executive Jenna Stirland, junior social account executive Emily Booth, and junior designer Corey Benfield.