Wilkin Chapman Rollits, the largest legal practice operating across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, has announced a significant expansion of its senior leadership team with three partner appointments. The 500-strong firm, which provides full-service commercial and private legal advice from hubs in Lincoln, Hull, and Beverley, has integrated new external expertise alongside internal promotions to support its regional growth strategy.

Joining the firm’s Lincoln office is Carl Holmes, a seasoned commercial litigator with over 20 years of experience. Previously at a large national practice, he succeeds Andrew Holt and brings a specialism in high-value contract disputes and professional negligence. The firm has also promoted two long-standing members of staff: family law expert Lucy Reding in Lincoln, and Laura Fahy within the wills, estates, and tax planning team in Hull. Laura Fahy said: “I feel privileged to be able to help so many hardworking individuals and business owners across the region to safeguard their assets ahead of April 2026.”



Aberdein Considine LLP, a national law firm and estate agency, has appointed Shilpi Jairath as Operations Director within its Lender Services Practice Group. Based in the firm’s Newcastle office, Ms Jairath brings 22 years of experience in contractual recoveries and mortgage repossession litigation. She joins from Ascent Performance Group, where she served as Head of Litigation. The appointment follows a year of growth for the firm, which recently secured "UK Legal Team of the Year" at the 2025 Credit Awards. Shilpi said: “The opportunity to lead operational strategy and drive efficiencies across a dynamic, growing business resonated strongly, but what truly stood out was the warm and welcoming culture.”



Metropolitan House, a Gateshead-based provider of flexible service office space, has appointed Ellie Taylor as centre manager following a period of strong growth. Ms Taylor, who joined the firm as an apprentice six years ago, will now oversee business operations and facilities management at the flexible workspace hub. The promotion comes as the North East office market remains buoyant, with high demand for sustainable, high-quality space. Owner Peter Conroy said: “As our tenants pursue their own commercial interests and plans, we continue to invest in homegrown talent and the skills to support their needs.” He added that business confidence is rising as the region enters 2026.



Ward Hadaway, a Top 100 UK law firm, has appointed Louise Miller as a partner in its Newcastle-based private client team. A solicitor since 2006, Ms Miller joins from Weightmans and brings two decades of experience in estate planning, trusts, and probate. Her expertise includes succession planning for entrepreneurs and business owners. The appointment follows significant expansion for the firm, including its merger with Teesside’s Endeavour Partnership and a new Birmingham office. Louise Miller said: “The opportunity to join Ward Hadaway’s private client team was something I couldn’t turn down. I have known and admired the team’s work for many years.”



Hedley Steel, of Yorkshire-based property consultancy Dacres Commercial, has been promoted to Chartered Surveyor after passing the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) assessment. Based in the firm’s Leeds and Ilkley offices, Mr Steel specialises in agency and valuation across the industrial, retail, and office sectors. Dacres Commercial, a subsidiary of the independent estate agency group Dacre, Son & Hartley, provides a full suite of commercial property services and is a specialist healthcare property advisor to GP surgeries and pharmacies across the UK. Hedley said: “The APC is the gold standard for property professionals and after years of studying and working, it’s very satisfying to successfully complete this prestigious qualification.”



Salko UK, a mechanical and engineering contractor based in Goole, has appointed Debbie Harman as its first Project Development Planner. Ms Harman will lead the firm's international growth, focusing on establishing recruitment hubs in key European markets. The firm provides specialist engineering expertise to the mining, energy, and industrial sectors, working with major energy providers across the UK and Europe. Debbie said: “I’m really thrilled to be joining Salko UK at such an exciting time in the company’s history - in 2025, we saw teams distributed in Holland and Ireland as well as here in the UK. The next step is to really cement the Salko name in our target markets and establish Recruitment Hubs to meet European labour demands.” CEO Dean Murphy added that the move targets a 2026 launch for these hubs.



With 15 years of international experience spanning Deloitte and Burberry, Agnieszka Krajewska has joined Saffery as Transfer Pricing Manager. Her arrival bolsters the Leeds-based team of the 170-year-old accounting firm, which provides specialist business advisory and tax services from its hub at Wellington Place. Specialising in the complex world of cross-border intercompany transactions, Agnieszka will guide both SMEs and multinationals through rigorous OECD regulations. Sally Appleton, Partner at Saffery, said: “Agnieszka’s experience is invaluable... she’s already proving to be a superb addition to our team.”



Leeds-based integrated marketing agency HUB has hired 13 new staff members, increasing its headcount by 27%. The recruitment drive follows a record year of growth and new contract wins with brands including Mattel. Key appointments include Christian Shone as Creative Director, who joins from SharkNinja to oversee brand and campaign development. The remaining 12 hires are spread across the agency's core functions, including performance marketing, SEO, PPC, PR, content, photography, and client services. CEO Rob Shaw said: “We’ve increased both the breadth and depth of our teams, recruiting both highly experienced individuals and fresh new talent.”