Firm boosts commercial property practice offering with two lateral hires
Wedlake Bell LLP has strengthened its commercial property and planning team with two partner hires. Graham Atkins and Leah Freeman both join from Druces LLP where they were commercial property partners. They bring extensive experience in property investment and development and their addition will expand the firm’s retail sector offering.
Graham has particular expertise in advising high end retail occupiers, property investors and developers and leisure industry operators. He previously worked at Manches LLP and, before that, Davenport Lyons. He has held senior firm management and team leader positions.
Leah has a broad practice encompassing acting for developers of mixed use schemes and institutional property investors. She has extensive experience advising high value institutional investors and was recently instructed by a pension fund on the sale of a mixed use portfolio valued at £280m. In addition she has acted for a developer in connection with the largest regeneration site in Haringey, North London.
Managing partner, Martin Arnold, comments: “As we start 2016 it is tremendous for the team to welcome two such experienced commercial property lawyers. Both Graham and Leah’s wealth of experience in the sector will be of real value to the group in boosting its wider commercial offering. As the sector grows we are pleased to meet this demand with specialist property investment advisors and a significant high end retail practice.”
