Firm hires new partner
Hill Dickinson has announced that it has added a new real estate partner, Ashley Kopitko.
Ashley joins the property team from Merali Beedle, having previously worked as a partner at Charles Russell Speechlys for over 20 years. Ashley brings extensive experience in advising investors and corporate occupiers, focusing on HQ relocations, pre-lettings and landlord and tenant work.
In particular, Ashley’s work involves the acquisition, funding, refurbishment, letting and disposal of commercial real estate. His matters often involve negotiations with neighbouring owners, local planning authorities and other stakeholders.
Ashley’s sector experience also includes complex pre-letting deals for insurers and brokers. He also advises on asset enhancement arrangements for landlords, restructuring and right sizing their portfolios and a wide range of operational leasing deals for tenants.
Welcoming Ashley to the firm, Jim Garton, property partner and head of the firm’s London real estate team, said: ‘Ashley is a partner who brings considerable skill and depth of experience, and we’re delighted that he has joined our real estate team.
‘Ashley’s hire is in line with our original growth plans for 2020 and we expect this hire to be the first of many, having already expanded the team this year with the hires of construction partner David Rintoul and property litigation associate Janine Cheema.
‘We have remained busy throughout the current pandemic with a strong pipeline of work from new and existing clients and we fully expect current demand to grow as our clients adjust to the industry post lockdown and work through challenges that may have occurred as a result of the pandemic. We are looking to grow further and strengthen the London property team and are pleased that the firm is well placed financially to continue to enhance our team with good quality people.’
Ashley added: ‘I’m looking forward to joining the team in London, especially at a time when demand for new building construction and occupancy of existing office space has been thrown into sharp relief by the ongoing pandemic. The property market is simultaneously facing huge challenges and significant investment opportunities and I am delighted to be able to bring additional capacity and experience to the team at such a pivotal time.'
