Chesterfield Champions celebrate growth, recognition and new leadership
Three Chesterfield Champions are celebrating new developments, with BRM welcoming two trainee solicitors, Banner Jones Solicitors securing 14 consecutive years of Legal 500 recognition and Chesterfield Royal Hospital appointing a new Chief Medical Officer.
BRM invests in next generation of legal talent
Two future solicitors have started training contracts with legal firm BRM after securing places on the firm’s competitive BRM Futures programme.
Alec Smith and Emily Froggatt have progressed from their roles as paralegals and will spend the next two years completing training across up to four areas of law, while studying towards their Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
Following a competitive application and interview process, the pair were successfully selected for the BRM Futures programme and have now been promoted from their paralegal roles.
They will undertake two years of training across up to four areas of law, gaining experience in both business and personal legal services.
Alec joined BRM after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with an LLB in 2025, while Emily graduated from Newcastle University with a law degree in 2024 and has worked as a paralegal in BRM’s real estate team since 2025.
Alec said:
“Being a solicitor is the only profession I was ever actually interested in pursuing. No one in my family are lawyers. Being on placement and going to events allowed me to meet lawyers and ask questions I couldn’t ask of family members.
I’m nervous and excited. It’s a new challenge but also a whole new field to learn. I’m happy to be supported by such phenomenal lawyers who are so well respected in the local legal community. I’ll be learning from the best.”
Emily said:
“Studying for the SQE exams while working full time has been a massive challenge, but it is incredibly rewarding. It has definitely meant making sacrifices and maintaining a structured study routine, but knowing I will achieve my career goal of becoming a solicitor makes it all worth it.
I feel excited to start my new role. I’ve enjoyed real estate but looking forward to my first seat in dispute resolution and moving to different seats within the firm, as well as joining different teams and getting to know different colleagues better.”
The training programme will give both future solicitors experience across different areas of law, with Alec starting his first seat in commercial property and Emily beginning in dispute resolution.
BRM Futures is designed to nurture the next generation of legal talent across Sheffield and Chesterfield, providing pathways into qualification through training contracts, CILEx and paralegal roles.
The programme also provides opportunities for junior lawyers to develop their skills while supporting the continued growth of the firm.
Banner Jones Solicitors celebrates 14 years of Legal 500 recognition
Banner Jones Solicitors has maintained its recognition in the Legal 500 for the 14th consecutive year, with its Family Law and Commercial Property teams retaining their rankings in the newly published 2027 guide.
The firm’s Family Law and Care team has retained its Tier 2 position, while Commercial Property has maintained its Tier 3 ranking for the second consecutive year.
The recognition highlights the expertise of teams working across the firm’s offices in Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.
Simon Wright, Chief Executive at Banner Jones, said:
“Fourteen consecutive years in the Legal 500 is a fantastic achievement and reflects the quality of our people across our offices in Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire and the work they do for our clients every day.”
The continued rankings provide recognition for the firm’s teams and their expertise across its regional offices.
Chesterfield Royal appoints new Chief Medical Officer
Susan brings 25 years of NHS experience to Chesterfield Royal, including more than 18 years as a consultant and over a decade in medical leadership.
She joins from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, where she is Deputy Medical Director and has previously served as Interim Executive Medical Director.
Her leadership career has focused on patient safety, clinical effectiveness, quality improvement and strengthening the medical voice, alongside her clinical work as a Consultant in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, specialising in Otology.
Susan Douglas said:
“I’m really delighted to be joining Chesterfield Royal as Chief Medical Officer. What matters most to me is working alongside colleagues, listening to their experiences and creating the conditions where our clinical teams can provide the very best care for patients.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know #TeamCRH, building on the great work already happening here and playing my part in the Trust’s next chapter.”
Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Susan to Chesterfield Royal. She brings a wealth of clinical and senior leadership experience, but just as importantly, a very clear commitment to listening to colleagues, supporting our clinical teams and continually improving care for our patients.
“Susan’s values and approach to leadership are a great fit for #TeamCRH and I’m really looking forward to working with her as we continue to improve care together.
“I’d also like to thank Kevin for his leadership and contribution and for everything he has done for our patients, colleagues and organisation.”
Susan succeeds Kevin Sargen, who is returning to full-time clinical practice at the Trust.
BRM, Banner Jones Solicitors and Chesterfield Royal Hospital are among more than 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.
Find out more about our Champions network.
