Property People: Law firm adds to construction team with senior appointments; Planning consultancy continues North West investment;

Law firm Brabners has bolstered its construction practice with a trio of senior appointments.

Elspeth Christie and Sarah Nunnery-Jones join the firm as partner and senior associate respectively, while Eleanor Stirrett has been promoted to the role of partner.

The firm said the appointments are another key step in its drive to capitalise on the continuing strength of the property and construction market.

A series of senior hires announced in the last 12 months, including the appointment of head of real estate Paul Firth, has seen the firm’s real estate team grow to more than 100 people across its three offices.

Christie has more than 15 years’ experience and previously led the non-contentious construction team at DLA Piper in Liverpool.

She will be joined at Brabners next month by Nunnery-Jones, having spent four years working together at DLA Piper.

Stirrett has been promoted to partner after three years at Brabners. She advises a variety of clients including developers, funders, housing associations, educational institutions, local authorities and contractors. She is also actively involved in the Forum for the Built Environment and currently holds the position of secretary for its Liverpool branch.

Paul Firth, head of real estate at Brabners, said: “The property and construction market continues to thrive. Helped in the North West, in particular, by a real focus on strengthening the region’s infrastructure and economy. Bolstering our real estate practice with the specialist knowledge and experience that Elspeth, Eleanor and Sarah bring is another example of our commitment to delivering outstanding service to our clients. It is also extremely rewarding for the team as a whole to be able to attract and welcome new talent, while also recognising and promoting talent from within.”

Nik White, managing partner of Brabners, added: “Building our real estate practice remains a key pillar in our firm-wide growth strategy and is a key part of our ambition to be the region’s leading independent legal practice. I look forward to seeing that part of the firm flourish as the team continues to build its market presence both in the North West and across the UK.”

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Planning consultancy Pegasus Group has said the North West remains a key focus of its ambitious growth plans after increasing its regional team by 70% in the last 12 months.

This month, Simon Britt has been appointed principal heritage consultant to the Manchester office with a remit to strengthen the firm’s national heritage services.
Other recent new starters include GIS specialist Jonathan Craig, planner Ann Daniels and graduate planner Georgian Southwell to the Liverpool office and graduate planner Eleanor Rawsthorne in Manchester.

The North West team now boasts 22 staff members, up from 13 this time last year.

Executive director Sebastian Tibenham, who was responsible for setting up the Manchester office when he joined Pegasus in 2010, said: “Our continued expansion in the North West, almost doubling in size in just 12 months, demonstrates a real confidence in the region thanks in part to an increase in new instructions.

“Our investment and growth is testament to the economic importance of both Manchester and Liverpool and we look forward to continuing to offer the very best quality and range of services to clients.”

The Liverpool office opened in 2016, but due to an increased demand for planning services, relocated to larger premises in June last year in order to accommodate the growing team.

The Liverpool team is led by regional director, Neil Culkin who joined Pegasus Group in 2016 to set up the Liverpool office.

The group has more than 280 staff operating from 12 offices across the UK.