Legal & Finance

Promotions at local law firm

Leading law firm Rollits LLP has announced a parade of promotions of lawyers from the Hull and York offices.

Five people are promoted from Associate to Partner. Two more step up from Senior Solicitor to Associate and a further three have been promoted from Solicitor to Senior Solicitor.

The new Partners are Sarah Adams, Alison Benson and Libby Clarkson in the Hull office and Suzgo Kaluluma and Lynne Webster, who are both based in the firm’s York office.

Sarah specialises in private capital matters including wills and probate, powers of attorney and trusts. She joined Rollits as a Trainee in 2011 after studying at the University of Hull and York College of Law and she qualified as a solicitor in 2013.

A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Alison heads up the family team at Rollits having specialised in the field for 20 years.

Libby graduated from the University of Hull in 2011 and joined Rollits as a trainee the following year, moving into the firm’s planning and development team when she qualified in 2014.

Suzgo qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and was appointed a Solicitor Advocate (High Courts Civil Proceedings) in 2011. He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP).

Lynne has more than 20 years’ experience as a commercial property solicitor. A graduate of Manchester University, Lynne qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and worked for various law firms in Leeds before joining Rollits in 2019. Lynne acts for numerous property investment and development companies and deals with a wide range of commercial property matters.

Donna Ashbridge and Emma Fawke have been promoted to Associates and their colleagues John Ashworth, Leanne Hatch and Harriet Wheeldon all step up to Senior Solicitor.

Donna graduated from the University of Hull in 2011 and joined Rollits as a trainee solicitor in 2015. After qualifying in 2017 she moved into the corporate team where her work includes company formations, mergers and acquisitions and banking matters.

Emma has worked in general practice since qualifying in 2011 and joined Rollits in 2018. As a member of the private capital team Emma now specialises in wills, estate planning, lasting powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters, in addition to probate and administration of estates.

John also graduated from the University of Hull in 2011 and following completion of his Period of Recognised Training, moved to work in the firm’s dispute resolution department after qualifying in 2018. As part of his training, in 2017 John was seconded to work with Hull’s UK City of Culture team for seven months and undertook numerous aspects of legal work within the culture and creative arts sector.

Leanne graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2015, qualifying as a solicitor in 2019. She joined Rollits in January 2020 and deals with all aspects of commercial property work.

Another graduate from Hull University and former trainee, Harriet joined the firm in 2017, and upon qualification in 2019 she moved to work in the firm’s charities team.

Ralph Gilbert, Managing Partner of Rollits, said: “We are delighted to announce another round of promotions and particularly pleased to see the progress being made by local legal talent in addition to those who have joined us from further afield.”

Pictured from left are Lynne Webster, Libby Clarkson, Suzgo Kaluluma, Alison Benson, Donna Ashbridge, John Ashworth, Emma Fawke, Sarah Adams and Leanne Hatch

Accountants raise funds for local charity

Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants nominated the Humbercare charity as its annual beneficiary for 2021/22 and were delighted to present a cheque to the Pan-Humber charity for £3,183.25.

Throughout the year, Forrester Boyd and its staff have been raising funds through monthly dress down days where staff made donations along with the longawaited return of the firm’s popular annual professionals’ quiz which took part on the 25th November 2021.

The professionals’ quiz, which was held at the Grimsby Golf Club, saw over 110 participants return in person to enjoy this annual event. Retired partner Alan Nesbitt returned to host the event expressing how great it was to once again be able to hold a physical event. Always the kick start to the Christmas festivities, once again, the generosity and support from the local professional community was outstanding.

Jenny Donnelly, Partner at Forrester Boyd was delighted to present the cheque to Dale Thompson, Manager at Humbercare.

Speaking of the donation, Dale said: “We are so thrilled to receive this amazing amount that Forrester Boyd has raised. Thank you so much to the staff and partners and those that have helped to raise these funds. For any charity, the past two years have been a struggle and we are no different so this money will really help to make a difference to some of the vulnerable young people and adults that we support.”

Humbercare was established in 1989 and is an enabling organisation dedicated to providing quality and innovative services to adults and young people. It is Humbercare's belief that all people should have the opportunity to realise their full potential and improve their skills to optimise their life chances and help them to become responsible members of the community.

The charity works across North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.