Shakespeare Martineau—Jake Holmes

Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has continued its growth in Southampton with the appointment of banking and finance partner Jake Holmes, who joins after more than a decade at Blake Morgan.

Jake specialises in acquisition, real estate and development finance, particularly within the mid-market and large corporate space. He regularly advises banks, corporate and individual investors, and other institutional lenders and borrowers across a variety of sectors, including leisure, healthcare and education.

Jake, who will be based in Southampton but servicing a national client base, said: ‘I am delighted to have joined Shakespeare Martineau and be based in our newly established Southampton hub. I am looking forward to working with the banking and finance team to develop and foster existing and new relationships with clients across a variety of sectors, while also rolling up my sleeves and getting to work raising the firm’s profile across the Central South.

‘Having worked in the Solent region for the majority of my career, I know what fantastic businesses there are in this area and what a terrific opportunity there is to work alongside these businesses as their strategic legal advisors as they grow and unlock their potential.’

Corporate partner James Hawkeswood added: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Jake to our expanding team as we increase our investment in the Southampton and broader Central South market. Jake brings a wealth of regional expertise and a robust network of connections, making him a valuable addition to our firm as we strive to provide unparalleled service and foster growth in the region.’