Switalskis has appointed four solicitors to its residential conveyancing team, including two directors, adding further property expertise to its Wakefield, Bradford, Sheffield and Grimsby offices.

Ed Atkin joins as director and joint head of conveyancing, bringing 20 years’ experience in property law. He spent almost 15 years at a leading regional firm, eight of those as a partner, before becoming head of residential property at a national firm with a focus on high-value transactions. For most of his career, Ed has worked in Grimsby and Lincolnshire markets. He has also been a catalyst to the opening of Switalskis’ new Grimsby office, giving the firm a presence in a town he knows well.

Alistair McKinlay also joins as director and deputy head of conveyancing, with close to 30 years’ experience in residential conveyancing. He qualified in 1997 after training at a Wakefield firm and spent 20 years at a key Leeds firm, becoming equity partner and leading its residential conveyancing team. He then progressed to partner at a Yorkshire firm’s Pontefract office. Alongside his conveyancing work, Alistair was responsible for team leadership, pastoral care and business development. Alistair is based at Switalskis’ Wakefield office.

They are joined by two new solicitors Jessica Carnell and Lauren Metham . Jessica joins as residential conveyancing solicitor based in Bradford, having recently qualified in November 2025. She brings over four years’ conveyancing experience across freehold and leasehold transactions. She says she was drawn to Switalskis by its “reputation for client care and the collaborative culture within the team”.

Lauren joins as a residential conveyancing solicitor in the Sheffield office. Having progressed in conveyancing throughout her career, she also recently qualified as a solicitor and brings eight years’ legal experience gained working in conveyancing. Having already experienced the Switalskis Sheffield team from the other side of transactions, she says the professionalism she encountered was a key factor in her decision to join.

The appointments come on the back of a landmark year for Switalskis conveyancing, winning four awards for their client dedication and conveyancing expertise.

Sarah Cookson , director and joint head of residential conveyancing at Switalskis, says: “Ed and Alistair bring an exceptional breadth of knowledge of their local markets and decades of experience in advising clients. It’s exactly the kind of expertise that will drive the next phase of our growth. Jessica and Lauren add further depth to the team, and both have built impressive foundations in conveyancing that will serve our clients extremely well. These appointments are a clear statement of our ambition and our commitment to delivering the outstanding service our clients expect, across an ever-wider geography.”