On the move: the latest jobs in the East Midlands

A highly experienced private client solicitor has joined the Wills and Probate team at Nelsons Law Firm in the East Midlands.

Amanda Voakes joins from Chattertons Solicitors and Wealth Management after five years with the firm, most recently as Head of Private Client, where she managed a team of up to 45 people, as well as managing business development and HR within the team.

Previously she worked for seven years at Langleys Solicitors and also at Shakespeare Martineau and Roythornes.

Voakes said: “Moving to Nelsons was a big step and I felt I was ready to really make my mark. I knew about the company from my previous experience in Nottingham and felt now was the right time to take a new path, working with a smaller team that I could really get to know and support, particularly the younger members of the team. With Nelsons becoming part of Lawfront last year, it’s been great to see the exciting steps it’s taking and it really shows that this is a forward-thinking company.”

In addition to her extensive legal experience, Voakes was a director and trustee of Radford Care Group, from which she stepped down last year. Her passion for supporting older clients also extends to her involvement with the Alzheimer’s Society in Nottingham, where she previously offered support to organise carers’ events.

Amanda is also accredited by Solicitors for the Elderly and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Voakes added: “I am looking forward to returning to more diverse cases and supporting the development of the department’s business and Nelsons as a whole. My work with senior clients and focus on mental capacity cases are areas where I have built most of my reputation and I feel I will now have more time to devote to these areas and potentially look at new opportunities in the future.”

Gateley RJAGateley, the estimating, employer’s agent, project management and site management firm within the professional services group, has appointed Harman Singh Barech as Technical Director in Leicester.

Property surveyor Barech brings 17 years of experience in estimating, employer’s agent and project management following roles at TSA Riley (formerly Henry Riley) and AtkinsRéalis (formerly Faithful + Gould) with experience in both the public and private sectors. He also led TSA Riley’s in-house RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) programme and has mentored and assessed RICS APC candidates nationally since 2018, as well as serving as Chair.

At Gateley RJA, Barech will be responsible for overseeing and developing technical performance and client account management, as well as supporting the continued growth of the Leicester commercial team. His role will support Commercial Director, Chris Clubb, as the consultancy continues to expand its commercial footprint across healthcare, education, supported living and insurance sectors, to name a few.

Barech will also support Clubb in playing a key role in Gateley RJA’s internal APC programme, as part of the consultancy’s commitment to developing its people.

Barech said: “Gateley RJA is going through a period of rapid expansion and it’s great to join them at such an exciting time. The consultancy prides itself on both its culture and the excellent results it delivers to clients and I look forward to supporting them as we continue to develop our commercial offering.”

“We are seeing significant growth in our instruction in the insurance sector, particularly now that we are part of the same group as Gateley Smithers Purslow, as well as in the healthcare, education and supported living sectors,” said Chris Clubb. “As a result, we are growing rapidly and have had to create a new CTO role to oversee projects and support the development of our team. Harman has excellent experience in both project delivery and training and management and will be a great addition.”