Chadwick Lawrence welcomes 18 new starters as headcount surpasses 250
Yorkshire legal experts Chadwick Lawrence has announced the appointment of 18 new team members – a significant milestone that takes total headcount to 252.
The new recruits span the firm’s Yorkshire office network, strengthening teams across Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Bradford and Horbury, in every corner of the business, reflecting the firm’s commitment to investing in talent, including those who have taken non-traditional legal career routes.
Among the appointments is Trent Van Sittert, who joins as a paralegal within the Dispute Resolution team. Having started his career in construction in South Africa, Trent re-trained in Law and now brings a rare combination of site experience and legal knowledge to his role, particularly in construction disputes. His practical insight will include drafting correspondence, preparing court bundles and conducting legal research on a range of commercial disputes.
Also joining is Ben Preece, appointed as junior IT support analyst in Wakefield, through a Level 3 apprenticeship in IT support and cloud services. Ben first connected with the firm during work experience, where his enthusiasm and curiosity stood out.
He will be supporting the six-strong IT department with frontline queries, diagnostics and triage, combining on-the-job learning with formal training in areas such as networking and cloud fundamentals. His appointment demonstrates Chadwick Lawrence’s commitment to apprenticeships as a route to developing new skills and fresh perspectives across the business.
The wider intake includes:
- Ailie McGrath, secretary, Litigation, Resolution and Recovery
- Aimee Dixon, trainee conveyancing assistant, Real Estate
- Amy Clarey, Paralegal, Probate
- Bode Bakare, team principal, Commercial Recoveries, Acclaim
- Hollie Burtoft, paralegal, Social Housing Litigation
- James Lockwood, paralegal, Employment
- Jessica Goodwin, paralegal, Employment
- Jordan Crowther, senior recoveries executive, Commercial Recoveries, Acclaim
- Kate Knowd, receptionist, admin
- Kathy O’Hare, conveyancing assistant, Real Estate
- Lucy Royles, solicitor, Employment
- Meghan Bedford, solicitor, Clinical Negligence
- Mohammad Qasim, new business assistant, Real Estate
- Sophie Lister Moor, solicitor, Corporate and Commercial
- Tia Nelson, trainee conveyancing assistant, Real Estate
- Zahira Mahmood, assistant, Conveyancing, Real Estate.
Managing Partner, Neil Wilson, commented: “Reaching a 252-strong headcount is a landmark moment for Chadwick Lawrence. Each of these 18 appointments strengthens our collective expertise, whether that’s supporting clients in the courtroom, advising on complex transactions, or ensuring our systems run smoothly behind the scenes.
“We’re proud to nurture talent at every level, from apprenticeships through to senior lawyers, and continue building a firm that’s fit for the future.”
Chadwick Lawrence has eight offices across West Yorkshire and in the year ending March 2025, reported a turnover of £16.67m, a 35 per cent increase on the previous financial year.