People on the move: JMW; Exchange Chambers; Vincents Solicitors; Blueoak Estates; VST Enterprises
Full service law firm JMW Solicitors, based in Manchester, has further grown its real estate team with the appointment of two new partners.
Ruth McCarthy will lead its real estate commercial team together with long-standing JMW partner Ian Gordon.
She follows existing department head Jim Banfi who will continue as a consultant with the team.
Banfi, aged 64, is one of the best known and respected figures in Manchester property market and will continue acting for Brookhouse Group and several other key JMW clients.
He recently led the team acting for JMW client, Brookhouse in its acquisition agreements, securing planning and collaboration arrangements for its involvement in the 160-acre Cuerden Strategic Development Site close to M65 intersection.
The site will be anchored by IKEA as well as mixed use, logistics, office, employment and residential purposes. The proposal represents an investment of more than £400 million, which will also deliver substantial transport and infrastructure improvements.
McCarthy joins JMW from Berg Solicitors (now Kennedys) where she was also a partner and had of real estate.
Abdul Salam also joins JMW’s real estate team as a partner from Gateley where he had worked for more than 15 years. He works across all areas in commercial real estate but specialises in acquisitions and disposals of investment properties, owner/occupier work and acting for high net worth individuals.
In December, 2017 the real etate team, now numbering 130 people, moved into14,000 sq ft of new office accommodation at 3 Hardman Street.
The new office space on the 4th floor houses 100 lawyers and 30 support staff, with room for expansion.
Since the start of the new financial year in May, 2017 the real estate team which comprises real estate commercial, real estate residential and real estate financial, has grown by 35 people which was the catalyst for the move.
Real estate Commercial has grown from 38 people to 53 since May 2017 and billing from £3.2m to £4m (23% increase) in the past year (December 2016-December 2017). The last five years’ billings increased from £1m to £3.5m, a 250% increase.
Joy Kingsley, senior partner at JMW Solicitors, said: “We are delighted to welcome both Ruth and Abdul to our growing Real Estate Commercial team. They are both excellent additions to the firm and bring with them a wealth of experience across all areas of commercial real estate.
“We have been able to attract new recruits at all levels, despite a difficult recruitment market and we continue to do so. As well as the 15 lawyers who have joined the real estate team since May 1, 2017, we have another eight waiting to start so at the present time we are in the enviable position of having filled all our real estate vacancies.
“We are sure that Ruth and Ian will build on the successful growth achieved under Jim Banfi.”
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London barrister Brynmor Adams has relocated to the North and joined fast-expanding Exchange Chambers in Manchester.
Called to the Bar in 2008, Brynmor joins Exchange Chambers from Five Paper. He specialises in property and public law with particular expertise in cases where these two areas interact such as in the fields of social housing and local government. He frequently deals with the impact of human rights and equality law on these sectors.
Chambers & Partners 2018 describes him as a “talented up-and-coming junior” who is “brilliant on his feet and good at technical arguments”, while the Legal 500 describes Brynmor as “a very astute, confident advocate.”
Brynmor’s property practice ranges from trusts of land and real property through to landlord and tenant matters. He is experienced in private and public sector property disputes. He has appeared on numerous occasions before the Property Chamber of the First-Tier Tribunal in leasehold and land registration disputes, and on appeals to the Upper Tribunal.
Brynmor’s clients include a wide range of public bodies and local authorities. He is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel, which enables him to represent central government departments. He frequently represents the government in judicial review proceedings in the High Court and UTIAC.
Adams said: “Exchange Chambers is a progressive, forward-thinking Set with strength in depth across the board. It has recognised expertise in my core practice areas and its Local Government and Social Housing team is one of the best in the country.
“I’m looking forward to further developing my practice at a Chambers with a well-deserved reputation for excellence and geographical coverage across the Northern and North-Eastern Circuits.”
Exchange Chambers director of chambers Tom Handley said: “Brynmor is a highly-regarded barrister who has established a very successful practice in London.
“His expertise complements existing departments within Chambers and we are looking forward to helping him expand and develop his practice throughout the North and nationally.”
Exchange Chambers has over 170 members including 17 silks.
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Vincents Solicitors has appointed private client solicitor and elderly legal specialist Claire Hamilton to head up its Chorley office.
Hamilton’s arrival will also expand the services offered directly from the branch, complementing the existing residential conveyancing and corporate business.
She Vincents from Kirwans where she developed and grew the firm’s Southport branch. She began her law career in 2005, working as a legal secretary in what is now Vincents’ Penwortham office, near Preston.
Hamilton said: “I am so pleased to be heading up Vincents’ Chorley branch. I am Chorley born and bred but have never actually worked in the town until now, so I am really looking forward to having the chance to make a difference in my own community.
“I’ve come full circle since working with the team in Penwortham as a legal secretary, and feel like I’ve ‘come home’ in more ways than one.”
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Blueoak Estates, the property development company based in Chester, has appointed David Williams, the ex-principal shareholder of Great Bear Distribution, as chairman to join the company’s main Board.
Williams has a wealth of experience and will play an active role in assisting Blueooak Estates to achieve their strategic growth plans.
He is also the director and shareholder of a corporate investment company, MACODAPE Investments Ltd, which has recently acquired a material equity stake in Blueoak Estates Ltd.
Iain MacLean, managing director of Blueoak Estates, said, “This is very exciting news for Blueoak Estates as we continue to focus on our long-term growth plan. As specialists in the construction of new-build homes and in the renovation and conversion of previously rundown or disused buildings, we pride ourselves on our craft.”
He continued: “I am delighted that David will be joining the board as his complimentary property experience will undoubtedly support the business. As part of the Investment we will also have access to ongoing support from the rest of the MACODAPE team with Colin Murdoch and Mark Roberts assisting with strategic initiatives.”
David Williams, Director of MACODAPE is equally excited by the investment, “We are delighted to become part of the Blueoak team as it is a great business with an excellent executive team in Iain MacLean and Stephen Roberts.
“The current portfolio of development schemes is proving hugely successful and we are excited to assist with the expansion of the business and subsequent developments in line with the long-term business plan.”
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Manchester-based consumer technology and security company VST Enterprises has hired two major players -managing director Paul Greaves and operations director Melissa Hendry.
After being bowled over by the sheer size of the potential for the company, Greaves will use his expertise to enable the business to live up to its mammoth potential. He will play a vital role in securing future business growth.
He explained: “A lot of people talk about global opportunities for businesses, but in my 30 years scaling and managing businesses, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. The potential for VST Enterprises is phenomenal.”
Meanwhile, Hendry is equipped with more than 14 years’ experience in telecommunications and technology. She’ll be auditing security and risk, while overseeing a wide range of processes and strategic planning for the company.
