LANGLEYS, the York-based law firm, has appointed solicitor Sheelagh Coles to further strengthen its Children Law Unit.

Sheelagh has a wealth of experience in child law and is an accredited member of the Law Society Children Panel. Only solicitors with relevant accreditation can represent children in legal proceedings.

She often represents children in cases where their parents, for some reason, are unable to care for them in the short or longer term, and the local authority becomes involved – work involving handling complex medical and psychological issues.

She also covers a whole host of other children related issues that often require highly sensitive and experienced handling Following a busy and successful year, the former Family and Children Law Unit has expanded and split into two separate units, allowing both teams to specialise to an even greater extent on their respective areas of law.

Langleys now boasts ten specialist family and children legal advisers and is one of the few firms in the region which retains its legal aid franchise.

Mark Day, who heads the Family Law Unit and specialises in financially complex and extensive divorces, said: “We pride ourselves in offering a quality, sympathetic and non-confrontational approach as well as a comprehensive and expert service in all manner of Family Law issues. “This has been strengthened by the addition of Sheelagh to our team. We can now offer expertise in all aspects of law relating to children, domestic abuse, co-habitation, pre-marital arrangements and both the financial and children aspects of divorce”



ANDY Clay has been appointed director at the York office of Begbies Traynor, the business rescue, recovery and restructuring specialist Andy, part of Begbies Traynor’s restructuring team based at its Clifton Moor, has more than 22 years’ experience with PKF in Leeds and joins from a smaller firm where he worked as an appointment taker.

His specialist areas include corporate insolvency and trading insolvencies, particularly within the printing, haulage and fleet management sectors.

David Horner, partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “With his extensive experience in all types of corporate and personal insolvency matters as well as trading insolvencies, investigations and business reviews, Andy will be a valuable addition to our growing team in York.

“Many businesses in the region are still facing difficult trading conditions and consequently we are continuing to build our team here.”



ALAN Sidebottom, a director with leading York chartered accountants Garbutt & Elliott, has been appointed a trustee of Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR).

Alan, who specialises in audit, will also be the treasurer of YCR, the largest regional medical charity in the UK.

Educated at Nunthorpe Grammar School in York, Alan joined Garbutt & Elliott in 1990, qualifying as a chartered accountant three years later and becoming a director in 2001. His client base includes many local charities, including St Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate and St Leonard’s Hospice in York.

He said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to be asked to join the board of Yorkshire Cancer Research. I look forward to working with a committed team, helping to fund world-class research in our region. It is great to be able to put something back into the community.”

Earlier this year, Yorkshire Cancer Research announced the appointment of Mark Stevens as its new chief executive, succeeding Elaine King, who has retired from the charity after serving as YCR’s chief executive for the past 15 years.

Yorkshire Cancer Research funds world-class research into the causes and cures of cancer, with every penny raised being spent in the Yorkshire region.

Professor Tony Robards, deputy chairman of Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “We are delighted that Alan has joined us as our treasurer. He brings a wealth of relevant experience and has already begun to make an impact. He will play an important part in our ambitious plans for the future.”