Wilkin Chapman Rollits has announced a series of senior appointments, including the recruitment of a new partner and the internal promotion of two existing lawyers.

Employment law specialist Sara Ellison joins the firm’s Lincoln office from Irwin Mitchell in Sheffield, bringing over 20 years of experience to the practice. Ellison is recognised for her work in employment disputes and workplace training.

Alongside this recruitment, the firm has promoted Stacey Heeley and Louisa Shilleto to partner roles. Heeley, based in Grimsby, joined the firm in 2020 and specialises in divorce, separation, and financial settlements within the family department. Shilleto, who joined the Hull office as a paralegal in 2015, now becomes a partner in the insolvency team.

Additionally, the firm has appointed Holly Gibson as a senior associate in the agriculture and real estate teams in York. These changes follow several other recent senior appointments across the firm’s six regional offices, which collectively house over 520 staff.

Regarding her appointment, Ellison noted: “The firm combines the strengths of a regional practice with the professionalism and ambition of a national firm, and has an excellent reputation across the region and beyond.”

Shilleto, reflecting on her decade-long tenure, added: “Becoming a partner is a significant milestone for me, particularly having started my career at Wilkin Chapman Rollits as a paralegal more than a decade ago. The firm has given me fantastic opportunities to develop my career.”



Darren McCallum has been appointed as commercial manager at John N Dunn Group, tasked with bolstering the company's electrical division from its Newcastle headquarters. His new remit includes overseeing site evaluations, managing contract administration, and serving as the primary liaison for the firm’s supply chain and stakeholders. McCallum joins the Newcastle-based business from Taylor Wimpey, where he served as a quantity surveyor. This appointment marks a return to the group for McCallum, who previously spent five years with the company as an electrical buyer between 2017 and 2022.

Founded over a century ago, the John N Dunn Group delivers mechanical, electrical installation, and maintenance services across the North East, Yorkshire, and Scotland, having completed more than 7,000 contracts for major developers and housing associations.

Reflecting on his return, McCallum said: “I’m really enjoying being back at John N Dunn Group. The company has a strong culture and has retained the feel of a family business. There are clear progression routes in place for all who want to develop their careers and I’m looking forward to watching the electrical division grow. Working at Taylor Wimpey, I gained invaluable experience which will only assist me in my new position.”

Managing director Lee Haddock added: “It’s great that Darren has learned new skills since he was last with us and that he will apply this new knowledge to the benefit of John N Dunn Group and our clients.”




EY has promoted Russell Moore to partner within its Indirect Tax team in the North West. Moore, who has been with the firm for 20 years, joined EY from HMRC in 2006. He has since developed specialist expertise in Value Added Tax (VAT), with a focus on the health sector. Currently based between the firm's Manchester and London offices, Moore’s promotion is part of EY’s broader strategy to invest in regional talent to meet growing client demand.

Reflecting on his career progression, Moore said: “I’m delighted and grateful to have been promoted and I am looking forward with both excitement and optimism to what I can continue to achieve alongside clients and colleagues in the years ahead. With a fantastic team across the North and the UK, and our technology-enabled capabilities, we are well-positioned to serve our clients and pursue further growth opportunities, and I am relishing the chance to play my part in driving that.”

Hilary Heap, EY’s North Market Leader, commented on the appointment: “It’s fantastic to see Russell recognised for his commitment to EY and the impact that he has with our team and our clients. Russell is already a valued member of our senior team at EY and I am looking forward to continuing to work with him as a fellow Partner to build on this momentum in the months and years ahead.”



EY has also strengthened its Yorkshire leadership with the promotion of Cara Clancy to partner in the firm’s audit team. Clancy, who joined the Leeds office as a graduate in 2009, has spent her 16-year career with the firm, specialising in the construction and real estate sectors. She works with a diverse portfolio of large listed and private businesses across the region.

Clancy, a psychology graduate from the University of York, has maintained a consistent presence in the North of England throughout her career, supported by various internal and client-facing secondments. Her promotion aligns with the firm's focus on nurturing regional expertise.

On reaching this milestone, Clancy said: “I’m very proud to have reached this exciting career milestone, and I am looking forward to supporting the continued growth of our business in Yorkshire. Since joining EY’s Leeds office back in 2009, I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible colleagues and mentors as well as a range of fantastic businesses. I would like to thank everyone who has supported my career journey so far, and I’m excited to see what we can continue to achieve together in the future.”

Kate Jarman, EY Leeds Office Managing Partner, added: “I’m delighted to see that Cara’s achievements and dedication have been rewarded with this deserved promotion. She is a highly-valued member of our EY team here in Yorkshire, and I have no doubt she will continue to be a success with the firm.”