Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has strengthened its team in Leeds with the appointment of legal director Mark Honeywell and associate Katie Dawson who join the firm's well established, UK wide, charities practice.

Joining from Lupton Fawcett LLP where he was a partner and head of charities and education, Mark advises charity and not-for-profit organisations from across the third sector on a broad range of charity law, governance and regulatory issues. He also has a strong track record working with the education sector, advising academy trusts, independent schools and educational establishments in the UK on academies projects, charity law, education law and governance matters. Ranked as a "Next Generation Partner" by the Legal 500 directory in the Yorkshire and Humber region, Mark is a member of the Charity Law Association and the Ecclesiastical Law Society.

Katie Dawson also joins WBD from Lupton Fawcett LLP and works with charity and not-for-profit organisations on a wide range of charity law and governance issues as well as dealing with the Charity Commission as a regulator. As a former corporate recovery lawyer, Katie has a niche practice in advising charities on insolvency matters and also has a wealth of experience in advising educational and faith-based charities.

Commenting on the new appointments, Emma Moody, Womble Bond Dickinson's partner and head of charities, said:

"We're thrilled to welcome Mark and Katie to the firm. Their deep understanding of the regulatory and financial landscape in which our clients operate, as well as their experience of advising educational and faith-based charities, will play an important role in bolstering our charities practice, especially here in Yorkshire, as we continue to see a rising demand from third sector clients for high quality, specialist advice."

Mark added:

"WBD has an impressive client portfolio, offering many opportunities to work on exciting projects with our clients. Katie and I look forward to bringing our experience to help grow WBD's charities offering here in Yorkshire as well as across the UK."

Ranking in the UK's top 20 law firms, WBD supports clients with their regional, national and international growth strategies. Since its entry in the Yorkshire market in 2012, the firm has since become one of the largest law firms in the region, advising clients from seven offices in the UK and 23 offices in the US. The firm's charities practice is highly ranked in legal directories across the UK and works with charities, institutions, foundations and not-for-profit organisations across the breadth of the sector, from educational and religious organisations to national charities and professional membership bodies.