People: Director hire for development consultancy; Property litigation specialist joins Birmingham firm

Development consultancy Pegasus Group has welcomed Sarah Butterfield on board as a director.

She brings with her more than 15 years’ experience in the private sector in Birmingham, having worked for planning consultancies and multi-disciplinary surveying practices including Knight Frank, Colliers International, Alliance Planning and WYG.

“I am delighted to have joined Pegasus Group’s team of specialist consultants and look forward to promoting the Group’s planning services here in the Midlands,” she said.

“Three years since the government set out its Midlands Engine Strategy for economic growth, there has never been a more exciting and opportune time to be based in Central Birmingham. The level of innovation and investment in infrastructure continues apace, and I am looking forward to supporting a wide range of clients with their development projects.

“Pegasus Group’s plans for growth here in the Midlands – and nationwide – remain ambitious, and I am thrilled to be able to play my part in achieving those ambitions.”

Butterfield provides planning advice to clients on all aspects of the planning process, from initial development strategies to the determination of project implementation. Her role covers a variety of sectors including residential, commercial, retail, leisure and roadside services.

Keith Fenwick, senior director in the Central office, added: “We are delighted to welcome Sarah to the Central team.

“Being at the very heart of the Midlands Engine means this is an exciting time for our region, as we ‘plan’ and grow our way out of the Covid-19 crisis. Sarah’s experience and skills set will be an enviable addition to the comprehensive service we are able to offer new and existing clients.”

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Browne Jacobson has appointed James Coles as a partner to further strengthen its property litigation team in Birmingham.

Coles has more than 19 years’ experience acting for both corporate and industrial clients and landlords on a wide range of contentious property matters including dilapidation claims, boundary disputes, forfeiture claims, possession proceedings, lease renewals, environmental and boundary disputes. James’ career has also seen him gain significant experience with property related professional negligence claims.

His clients have included US based agricultural equipment manufacturer AGCO, Scrivens opticians, West Bromwich Building Society, Telent and Calthorpe Estate.

The property litigation team’s clients include Natural England, Aggregate Industries UK Limited, Homes England and Paperchase Products.

Sarah Parkinson, partner and head of real estate at Browne Jacobson, said: “We are delighted to have someone of James’ calibre come on board. He is an outstanding property litigation lawyer and his wealth of experience in dealing with regional and national property litigation disputes will be attractive to our clients. James will be working with Pam Shepherd to grow our real estate litigation practice across the wide- ranging sectors focussed on by the firm.”

Coles joins from Black Country law firm George Green where he was head of its property litigation team and the firm’s Wolverhampton office.