Solicitor Lucy Dougall has returned to the North East after being appointed to Muckle LLP’s corporate legal team.
After starting her legal career with a firm in Teesside, Ms Dougall moved to Sheffield, where she qualified. After working as a corporate solicitor for two years, she left her previous firm to travel around Australia and Bali for two months before returning to the region to join the 27-strong corporate team at Muckle, supporting eight partners and advising clients on a range of corporate law matters, including succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations and listed company transactions.
She said: “I’ve always loved corporate law and helping clients with their transactions. I already love it at Muckle - it’s everything I hoped it would be. I really enjoyed my interview, as I felt at ease straight away. I got to hear all about the team, the firm, and its values, so from the moment I left the interview, I knew I really wanted to work here.”
Anthony Evans, who leads the corporate team and is set to become managing partner in April, said: “It is great to have Lucy join us; she brings great enthusiasm to everything she does and has already settled in really well. I am excited to see how she gets on, I know our clients will love working with her. Our pipeline remains strong, and the team is in a great place. I know Lucy will add to that.”
Property and business consultancy youngsRPS has promoted Harry Morshead and Tom Whitehead to directors. The pair, who were appointed to the board last year, have been promoted in a strategic move to highlight the firm’s commitment to its long-term succession planning and future growth.
Over the last 20 years, the company has been grown by fellow directors and business partners Graeme Bruce, John Turnbull and Charles Raine. In their new role, Mr Morshead and Mr Whitehead will take the helm in guiding youngsRPS into its next chapter.
Managing Director, Graeme Bruce, said: “The promotion of Harry and Tom is a testament to their leadership qualities and their unwavering commitment to our clients and the communities we serve. This marks an exciting new chapter for us as we continue to build on our legacy and embrace opportunities for growth.”
Groundwork NE & Cumbria has appointed Laura Farrell-Pronesti to the newly created role of partnership development lead. The appointment comes at a crucial time for the charity as it seeks to implement a new funding strategy.
Groundwork’s programmes are primarily funded through local and central government grants, corporate partnerships, and third-party sponsorships. In her new role, Ms Farrell-Pronesti will identify and secure new business partnerships, sponsorship, and funding opportunities to support the key areas of the charity’s work.
Lisa Locke, head of business development at Groundwork NE & Cumbria said: “We’re excited about the opportunities the new partnership development role will bring to Groundwork. It’s all about creating and building strong, long-lasting relationships with businesses and organisations that want to make a real difference in their communities and for the environment while enhancing their ESG values.
“Laura is an ideal appointment having worked for years as coordinator of our waste and recycling visitor education centre at Campground Household Waste Recycling Centre, in Gateshead. Her dedication to community and environmental causes aligns perfectly with our goals. We are confident that Laura will create and drive new opportunities and funding initiatives to support our vital work.”
Ms Farrell-Pronesti said: “Being part of an organisation that makes such a huge difference to lives and communities across the North East is so important to me, and I look forward to this new chapter. I am excited and ready to develop new funding streams and engage with the region’s business community in meaningful and mutually beneficial ways.”
County Durham and South Shields accountancy and IT firm Muller Stoker has appointed trainee accountant James Imrie as part of its commitment to investing in future talent. Mr Imrie, a business management, finance and accounting graduate of the Open University, will be undertaking the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants qualification later this year, as he begins his training to becoming a fully qualified accountant.
He said: “I am really enjoying the job, even more so than I expected. Everyone has been so welcoming, and I feel like I have settled straight in here. At the moment I am learning the ropes and have been doing things like accounts preparation and filing, tax returns and company secretarial work, and supporting the account managers to get a feel for what being an accountant entails.”
Neil Mullen, co-founder and director of Mullen Stoker, said: “James has fit straight into the team and is already proving to be an asset to the accountancy team. He’s picked up the processes straight away and we’re keen to see his development continue when he begins his formal training to becoming a fully qualified accountant.”
Beyond Housing has announced the appointment of Caroline Wallace as its new chief finance officer. Ms Wallace joined the organisation in late 2024, bringing experience from her previous role as director of finance at Bernicia Homes, and as deputy finance director at Gentoo Group in Sunderland.
She has more than 20 years of experience in financial leadership including significant experience at board level. She said: “I am really excited to be joining Beyond Housing as the organisation works towards finalising its new corporate strategy. I look forward to working with the leadership team and Board to improve the overall customer experience and the homes we provide.”
Rosemary Du Rose, chief executive at Beyond Housing, said: “We are pleased to welcome Caroline and look forward to her strengthening our financial strategy and supporting Beyond Housing’s long-term goals.”
Wealth manager Julius Baer International has hired Gareth Johnson to establish a dedicated service for Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) in the Ƶ. Mr Johnson has been appointed as head of managed portfolio service, and he will be will be based in JBI’s new Newcastle office.
Mr Johnson previously worked for RBC Brewin Dolphin for 22 years, during which he was responsible for a range of solutions including RBC Brewin Dolphin’s MPS, which he led from 2010. As a member of the client facing leadership team, he has been a regular industry commentator and was involved in various industry groups including the Investment Association’s FinTech Accelerator.
David Durlacher, CEO Julius Baer International (Ƶ), said: “We believe this is an incredible opportunity for JBI to provide access to our discretionary solutions to a new client group, creating great outcomes for clients of IFAs. As part of our long-term strategy, we want to thoughtfully build out a proposition that will resonate now and into the future for IFAs. I am very pleased to welcome Gareth to the team, his long-standing expertise and leadership will be instrumental in setting up this new offering.”
Mr Johnson added: “I am delighted to have joined David and the team at JBI. The investment process and depth of experience within Julius Baer really attracted me to this opportunity and sets the proposition apart. Within the business, there is a laser focus on great, consistent client outcomes which I think is really important for this market. We know how valuable advice and IFAs are in the Ƶ, and we really want to play a part in this market now, and long into the future.”
