People: Gateley Legal; JLL; Fisher German

Gateley Legal has expanded its specialist residential development team in Birmingham with the hire of partner, Simon Robinson.
Robinson joins Gateley Legal with 20 years of experience advising housebuilders, land promoters and developers on housebuilding and urban residential development matters.
He also specialises in strategic land, regeneration and complex joint venture schemes.
He has spent his entire legal career working in Birmingham and previously spent seven years as a partner at Trowers & Hamlins, as well as holding prior roles with firms including Gowling WLG and Eversheds Sutherland.
Robinson maintained his Band 3 Real Estate ranking in the Chambers and Partners 2025 legal guide for the fifth consecutive year.
Robinson said: “Helping clients to build the new homes that our communities desperately need is the main motivation for my work. So, I have long admired Gateley Legal’s market-leading residential development team and I am delighted to have the opportunity to join them in Birmingham. Now that I am here, I’ve been even more impressed by the size, scope and ambition of the team and it’s great to be able to contribute to their success.”
Callum Nuttall, partner and national head of the residential development team at Gateley Legal said: “Simon’s appointment brings our Birmingham-based team to an impressive total of seven partners in the Midlands alone, cementing our position as the largest specialist residential development team in the country. His strong pedigree will play a key role in bolstering our offering for clients to service valued long-term relationships and panel appointments for the top UK housebuilders.”
JLL is continuing to invest in its people in the Midlands following its latest round of promotions.
The global real estate services firm has made several promotions covering its Government and Public Sector, Rating, Valuation, Building Surveying, Office Agency and Property and Asset Management teams.
Adam Williams has been named lead director of government and public sector and will leverage his expertise in frameworks, bids, contracts and public sector initiatives to support clients across the region.
Joining Williams’ team is Benjamin Ransom, newly appointed director in the government team. Ransom’s hire is one of four key appointments made by the Midlands.
Laura Allen (Rating), Fergus Spencer (Residential Valuation), James Perry and Matthew Owen (Building Surveying) have all been made associates.
The Midlands has also seen Evie Davies, Oliver Mirza and Thunzi Ng’Ona promoted to senior surveyor.
Stuart Smith, head of the Midlands at JLL said: “These promotions highlight the team’s exceptional work ethic and dedication, as well as the quality results they help us achieve for our clients. They also reaffirm our commitment to investing in talent across the Midlands.
“This wave of promotions is credited to the whole team’s hard work and commitment to high standards. They all illustrate the kind of environment we strive to foster – one where people are supported to grow, develop, and succeed in their careers.”
A property consultancy has announced a senior appointment at its Worcester office as the firm continues to strengthen its presence across the Midlands.
Fisher German has welcomed Will Kerton as a new partner in the firm’s rural and residential team.
Kerton is from Worcester and has more than 25 years of experience in the property industry, originally training in Somerset before moving back to the area where he spent 20 years at a global real estate consultancy until 2020.
During that time, he worked on country house and farm sales and also conducted property auctions in the Midlands and South West while using his expertise to develop the consultancy’s Worcester office.
Since 2017, he has also worked in partnership with his wife to run Churchfields Farm in Worcestershire, where they have diversified a traditional dairy farm to incorporate beef and arable farming and have also evolved the business into a leisure and hospitality venue.
His experience and focus will be on clients and transactions in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.
He said: “I am extremely pleased to be joining Fisher German and moving back into the property profession. Fisher German is a strong, multi-disciplinary firm which is experiencing an incredible amount of growth, so this role is a fantastic opportunity to be part of this.
“There has been a significant shake-up in the marketplace following the recent Budget, and there will be a lot of people questioning whether it is the right time to be holding on to their agricultural business assets. Having experience as an agent as well as a strong understanding of farm diversification under two governments, I will be well-placed to provide professional help and advice to those individuals. Being a keen auctioneer, I also hope to explore opportunities in this area to support further developments within the business.”
Stuart Flint, divisional managing partner for agency at Fisher German said: “We are thrilled to welcome Will Kerton to our team. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the property market in Worcester and the wider Midlands will be invaluable as we continue to grow our business. He is a key recruitment and will help us to support our clients in meeting their growth plans and navigating the challenges they are facing.”