Mills & Reeve Leeds Promotes Four as Corporate Team Grows

Mills & Reeve Leeds promotes Helen Hirst to principal associate alongside three further promotions in the corporate and commercial team

National law firm Mills & Reeve has promoted four people in its Leeds office, led by Helen Hirst’s elevation to principal associate in corporate and commercial. Darcey Sutcliffe and Sophia Bell have both been promoted to senior associate in the same team, while Bradley Chilton becomes senior data quality assistant in technology. The Mills & Reeve Leeds promotions are part of 97 announced firmwide, including eight new partners across the firm’s seven offices. Three of the four Leeds promotions are in the corporate and commercial team, the same practice that advised AppCheck on its LDC private equity investment which Leeds Today covered earlier this year. Paul Johnson, partner and head of the Yorkshire office, said the promotions demonstrate strong commitment, hard work, and a real appetite to succeed.

Why This Matters For Leeds

Three corporate promotions in one round reflects the deal activity flowing through Mills & Reeve Leeds, and with Endless, Walker Morris, and LDC all completing deals from Leeds this year, demand for corporate lawyers is structural. Across the city, Leeds law firms have now promoted over 100 lawyers this year.

Who Was Promoted at Mills & Reeve Leeds

Helen Hirst’s promotion to principal associate recognises her growing role within the corporate and commercial practice. Darcey Sutcliffe and Sophia Bell both step up to senior associate in the same team, strengthening the mid-level capability that supports complex transactions. Bradley Chilton’s promotion to senior data quality assistant in technology reflects the firm’s investment in the data and systems infrastructure behind its legal services. Paul Johnson said each person brings deep expertise and strong client relationships to the Leeds office and will play an important role in shaping the future of the firm in the region and across its key markets.

“The latest round of promotions shows our continued investment in supporting developing and empowering our people as we strive to deliver our long-term growth strategy. This commitment is reflected in our recent Investors in People platinum accreditation a standard achieved by only 8% of assessed organisations.”

— Paul Johnson, Partner and Head of Mills & Reeve Yorkshire

Mills & Reeve’s Growing Leeds Presence

The promotions come during significant investment in the Yorkshire office. Mills & Reeve Leeds doubled its space at One City Square, grew headcount by 17 per cent, and launched a dedicated banking team under partner Nick Bell, who joined from Squire Patton Boggs. Nationally, Mills & Reeve employs over 1,450 people with more than 850 lawyers across offices in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich, and Oxford, with a reported revenue of £168 million in 2023/24.