Leading law firm Devonshires continues to expand in Leeds with the appointment of two solicitors. The new recruits mean that the firm has quadrupled its team since opening in the city centre just 9 months ago.
Julie Hargreaves joins the firm’s securitisation team and was formerly a Managing Associate at Addleshaw Goddard prior to moving to DAC Beachcroft. With more than 12 years’ experience, she advises on the full spectrum of social housing property work, together with landlord and tenant asset management including lease renewals, acquisitions and sales. Her client base is diverse and she regularly acts for funders, institutional landlords, housing associations and local authorities.
Natalie Swales has been appointed as a solicitor in Devonshires’ banking team. She joins from Addleshaw Goddard where she was an Associate specialising in advising banks and institutional investors in the social housing sector on multi-million-pound financing transactions.
Devonshires, which is headquartered in London, chose Leeds as the location for its northern office in February 2017. Founding Partner Chris Drabble was joined by banking Partner Gary Grigor in April 2017. Chris and Gary have since been joined by Kirsty Thompson, a Partner who specialises in employment and pensions matters, and who relocated from London in September.
Chris Drabble said: “In direct response to our growing workload, we are seeking to expand our team and practice areas, ensuring we have the right people in place to further cement our position in the north. Julie and Natalie’s skills will help us achieve this aim, bolstering capacity in our banking, securitisation and real estate teams.”
Speaking about her appointment, Julie said: “The market has responded really positively to the firm opening in the city, so it’s an exciting time to join the team and a great opportunity to help expand Devonshires’ real estate offer across the north.”
Natalie added: “I’m looking forward to working with Gary again and to make my contribution to some of the highest profile deals in the sector. The opportunity to be part of such an energetic and dynamic team was too good to overlook.”
Devonshires’ Leeds office is located in Park Square. The team specialises in banking, securitisation, real estate, employment and pensions matters.
