Fladgate has announced the arrival of a team of 25, comprising nine partners and 16 additional team members from Memery Crystal. These additional team members, include senior associates, associates, paralegals, administrative staff and a trainee solicitor, marking a significant acquisition of talent for Fladgate. The move secures new positions for a significant number of Memery Crystal employees and is effective from 10 February.
This strategic move aligns with Fladgate’s ambitious growth strategy, further strengthening the firm’s expertise in private capital and disputes. The following partners will be joining the firm:
- Andrew Titmas – Corporate/PE
- Lucie Burniston – Corporate/VC
- Matthew Lindsay – Finance
- Rumit Nanji - Finance
- Richard Evans – Dispute Resolution (Real Estate)
- Liam Bell - Dispute Resolution (Real Estate)
- Kelly Seal - Dispute Resolution (Real Estate)
- Nicola Kravitz – Real Estate
- Tristan Wark – Real Estate
They will bring with them a broad range of clients from the private capital arena, spanning companies in the private equity and venture capital space, real estate investors and developers, private finance, funds and family offices. The swift move to Fladgate will allow them to maintain continuity of service and support for these clients from day one.
Richard Evans, former head of the real estate litigation team at Memery Crystal, joins Fladgate alongside partners Liam Bell and Kelly Seal. Together, they bring extensive expertise in complex commercial and residential property disputes, including landlord and tenant matters.
Meanwhile, Nicola Kravitz, previously co-head of real estate at Memery Crystal, and Tristan Wark will strengthen Fladgate’s already prominent real estate team. Nicola specialises in commercial and residential properties for high-net-worth individuals, family offices and private property companies and funds, while Tristan has significant experience in acquisitions, disposals, development, lettings, and portfolio management.
Fladgate’s Funds, Finance & Regulatory (FFR) team will also welcome Matthew Lindsay and Rumit Nanji, formerly the joint Heads of Banking & Finance at Memery Crystal. Matthew and Rumit bring deep expertise in acquisition and property finance, asset and leveraged finance, and fund finance.
The Corporate team will benefit from the addition of Andrew Titmas and Lucie Burniston, both of whom have strong track records advising companies and shareholders on M&A transactions, private equity roll-ups, venture & growth capital, restructurings, and fundraising for some of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses.
Grant Gordon, Managing Partner at Fladgate, said: “We are thrilled to welcome such high-calibre partners who are recognised leaders in their respective fields, together with valued associates and support staff following what has been a challenging and uncertain time for Memery Crystal and its people. We are pleased that we have been able to provide some job security at this difficult time for them.
'This strategic move underscores our ambition, agility, and ability to act decisively and quickly to capitalise on opportunities in line with our growth strategy, reinforcing our position as a leading destination for top legal talent.
'These new hires bring with them extensive knowledge and experience in the world of Private Capital and Disputes, further demonstrating the importance of this client base to our firm. As we welcome our new colleagues, we look forward to the significant impact they will have on Fladgate’s future growth trajectory.'
Richard Evans, on behalf of the nine Memery Crystal partners joining, said: 'We are delighted to be joining Fladgate, where the strength and depth of their legal offering and the quality of their people have been evident to us. Fladgate has a clear and dynamic growth strategy, and our practices align perfectly with that.
'We are grateful to Fladgate for acting swiftly and decisively amid the uncertainties of recent developments, ensuring positions for us and several talented colleagues from Memery Crystal. Whilst we are extremely disappointed with how matters have played out at our previous firm in the last few weeks, we recognise this incredible opportunity with Fladgate and look forward to playing our part working alongside our new colleagues to deliver the specialised legal and commercial solutions that clients demand today.'
About the new additions
Richard Evans: Richard was previously a partner and head of the real estate litigation team at Memery Crystal. He advises leading UK property companies, retailers, tenants, developers and investors on complex property disputes resulting out of the acquisition, development and management of commercial real estate. Richard is a member of Property Litigation Association (PLA) and RICS Dilapidations Forum.
Nicola Kravitz: Nicola was previously a partner and joint head of real estate at Memery Crystal. She specialises in commercial and residential properties for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, funds and private property companies.
Andrew Titmas: Andrew was previously a corporate partner at Memery Crystal. He specialises in advising shareholders and corporates on M&A transactions (both share and assets acquisitions and disposals), private equity transactions, restructurings and general corporate law advisory.
Matthew Lindsay: Matthew was previously a partner and joint head of banking & finance at Memery Crystal. His practice revolves around real estate finance (senior and mezzanine) and international private capital with particular emphasis on creating and preserving wealth for his clients through strategic real estate investment and astute asset management. Matthew is a member of R3 (the association of business recovery professionals) and the Insolvency Lawyers Association and regularly speaks to finance professionals on all elements of real estate and transaction finance in Europe and the US.
Rumit Nanji: Rumit Nanji was previously a partner and joint head of banking & finance (with Matthew) at Memery Crystal, specialising in property finance, transactional and leverage finance . Rumit has a particular focus on transactions in the East-Africa region – highlights include acting for Shanta Gold Limited and FBN Bank on certain of their East-Africa focused transactions.
Liam Bell: Liam was previously a partner in Memery Crystal’s real estate litigation team. He acts for landlords, tenants and freehold owners on all aspects of rent and service charge disputes, lease forfeiture, claims for breach of covenant, boundary disputes and enforcing terms in property contracts. He advises frequently on statutory lease renewals and terminations, providing strategic advice for managing tenant exits and for protecting clients’ interests generally. Liam also acts extensively on insolvency matters, dealing with both individual bankruptcy and company insolvency as an extension to his core expertise in property litigation. Liam is a member of the Property Litigation Association and the Leisure Property Forum.
Kelly Seal: Kelly was previously a partner in Memery Crystal’s real estate litigation team. Her experience covers both commercial and residential property, with specific expertise in landlord and tenant issues and disputes.
Tristan Wark: Tristan Wark was previously a real estate partner at Memery Crystal. He has broad experience including acquisitions and disposals, development, lettings and portfolio management, real estate finance and corporate real estate. He acts for a range of clients including property companies, high net worth individuals, institutional investors, traditional and alternative lenders, retailers and developers.
Lucie Burniston: Lucie was previously a partner in the corporate team at Memery Crystal. She specialises in acquisitions and disposals of private companies and advising on fundraisings by venture and growth companies. She also advises on a range of other company law matters, including corporate re-organisations and joint ventures across a variety of sectors.
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