Birmingham duo recruited for Lodders Real Estate team

TWO experienced property lawyers are the new recruits to the Real Estate team at Lodders Solicitors.
 
James Mottram and Anna Turnell join have joined the firm’s Stratford-upon-Avon office as Associates. Between them, they have more than 20-years experience across residential development and commercial property investment transactions.
 
Mottram, previously an Associate with Gateleys’ residential development team in Birmingham for11 years, will work alongside Nick East, head of Lodders’ Real Estate.

Previously a solicitor in the Real Estate team at SGH Martineau in Birmingham, Ms Turnell specialises in large scale real estate investment transactions and landlord and tenant work, with a particular emphasis in recent years acting for retailers with, in some cases, a presence across most major retail outlets in the UK.
 
She strengthens the firm’s property investment services and will work alongside Lodders’ Partner Mark Lee.

The appointments bring to 14 the number of fee earners at Lodders’ Real Estate.

Commenting on the new hires, Lee said: “Anna and James both bring significant experience in their individual specialist fields, further strengthening our real estate offering, sector knowledge and technical legal expertise.
 
“The team is one of the strongest in the region for both residential development and commercial property investment work and given the success, volume, scale and value of the transactions we completed in 2014, these new hires will enable us to build on our successes and further cement our reputation for superior real estate legal advice.”
 

New associate for BCL Legal

LEGAL recruiter BCL Legal has strengthened its Birmingham office with the appointment of a new associate.

Tracy Harris, left, joins the firm as a senior associate to handle private practice solicitor and legal executive recruitment in the West & South Midlands and the Thames Valley. She will be specialising in commercial property, commercial/corporate, commercial litigation, employment, property litigation, private client, family, construction, banking, planning, civil litigation, corporate tax and social housing litigation roles.

Ms Harris has worked in the legal recruitment profession for 17 years, including running her own consultancy – Harris Legal Recruitment – for nearly 10 years.
 
In addition to the new member of staff, BCL Legal has also welcomed back Angharad Warren following her maternity leave. Ms Warren was previously based at the firm’s offices in Leeds and Manchester, however, she has now moved to the Birmingham office where she is specialising in corporate, commercial, IP/IT, commercial litigation, banking, banking litigation, restructuring, insolvency, employment, pensions and corporate tax jobs for law firms in Birmingham city centre.
 
James Batt, managing director of BCL Legal, said: “2014 was a record year for us so we’re delighted to announce Tracy’s arrival as she further augments and solidifies our market position in the region. She brings with her a wealth of talent that will add real value, experience and knowledge to our clients, candidates and the whole BCL Legal team.”

Advocate returns to Coventry to bolster Askews

A CRIMINAL higher court advocate has joined expanding Coventry law firm Askews Legal to strengthen its in-house expertise.

Richard Murray brings 18 years of criminal defence experience to the firm and in particular, expert representation in Crown Court and Court of Appeal advocacy including in regulatory cases.

It marks a return to the city for Murray, who practiced in Coventry for 16 years – 12 of which were at his own criminal defence practice, Millerchip Murray.

He then moved on to the Birmingham office of Cartwright King Solicitors where he was a director and higher court advocate prior to taking on the senior role at Askews Legal.

Askews Legal – incorporating De Marco Solicitors – was formed in October last year after the two Coventry law firms merged with the aim of becoming a leading full service legal practice in the region.

Kuljeet Sandhu, commercial and civil law solicitor and partner at Askews Legal, said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard and his significant experience as a criminal higher court advocate to our expanding team.
 
“His expertise gives us a robust regulatory offering by being able to represent clients at the highest level in corporate cases, for instance, relating to health and safety, white collar crime and trading offences.”
 
Murray, centre, is pictured with Kuljeet Sandhu and Sandra Garlick.