Brabners adds real estate partner

The North West law firm has expanded its property practice with the appointment of Jennie Jones, a former director of construction at Freeths.

In her new role, Jones will work across Brabners’ Manchester, Liverpool and Preston offices, alongside construction lead Barry Goodall and real estate sector lead Andrew Waugh, who joined the firm in April.

Jones’ appointment “further strengthens Brabners’ support for clients operating in the construction sector, with significant challenges anticipated throughout the supply chain as projects continue to be affected by Covid-19”, Brabners said.

The real estate division employs 95 people, having added 10 lawyers in the past two years, and is targeting further growth after increasing its practice revenue by 10 per cent in 2020.

Jones worked at law firm Freeths for more than five years, first as a senior associate and then as a director in the construction team. She specialises in dispute resolution and transactional construction work, advising contractors, developers, design consultants and funders on both contentious and non-contentious issues.

Prior to that, she worked at DWF, also in Manchester, as a construction and engineering senior solicitor for eight years.

Brabners’ managing partner Nik White said: “The real estate sector has long been a strategic area of growth for us, particularly as the North West continues to deliver some of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects.

“Jennie’s additional experience will prove vital at a time when our portfolio of construction clients is expanding in response to unique pressures currently, and as we look to ensure the construction industry is best placed to play its part in economic recovery.”

Jones added: “While recent activity levels appear encouraging, a significant number of construction projects are being cancelled or delayed due to unreliable supply chains, workforce management challenges, and financial reserves being stretched to their limits.

“The construction team at Brabners has vast experience in advising clients on how to navigate through these testing times to emerge in a position of strength.

“It’s a privilege to be joining such an exceptional group and I look forward to providing guidance and support to our clients during an uncertain time for many.”