Addleshaw Goddard hires Irwin Mitchell team

Addleshaw Goddard has added six partners from Irwin Mitchell to its Manchester real estate team, including head of real estate Anita Weightman, with Roy Beckett now stepping up to lead Irwin Mitchell’s property team.

The law firm, based in One St Peter’s Square, has added Weightman, Patrick Duffy, Tony Weightman, Emily Williams, Chris Perrin, and Paul Barnard to its team.

Anita Weightman had been with Irwin Mitchell since 2013, and also previously headed up DLA Piper’s Manchester real estate team for more than 10 years.

Duffy specialises in multi-million pound acquisitions including shopping centres and offices, alongside forward funding agreements and property investment.

Also joining Irwin Mitchell are Emily Williams, who specialises in planning law; commercial real estate partner Tony Weightman; real estate litigation specialist Chris Perrin; and Paul Barnard, who focuses on advisory on property portfolio management.

Peter Kershaw, head of Addleshaw Goddard’s Manchester real estate team, said: “Commitment to the real estate market and growing local market share are at the heart of these appointments.

“Manchester has a key part to play in the ambitious strategy we have set for ourselves to service new clients and deepen some of our existing institutional relationships, as well as looking after the businesses in our local markets.”

The hires are the latest in a spate of recruits for Addleshaw Goddard, which added eight staff to its construction team last month, including Paul O’Kane and Paul Barge. All eight joined from rival law firm DWF.

Roy Beckett will now head up Irwin Mitchell’s real estate team

Irwin Mitchell’s real estate team will now be headed up by partner Roy Beckett. Beckett left DLA Piper around the same time as Anita Weightman, and has been at Irwin Mitchell for five years.

A spokesperson from Irwin Mitchell said: “We’d like to thank the partners who are leaving for their contribution during their time with Irwin Mitchell and wish them well in the future.

“We recently changed the leadership team in our business legal services division and in real estate we have a clear direction and focus following the arrival of new national head of department, Adrian Barlow.

“We have over 30 real estate partners in seven offices across the UK who are committed to our new plans. They’re working with great clients and will continue to attract new work as our business continues to grow and develop in the areas in which we are focusing.

“We’ll also shortly be moving into new offices in the city centre and we look forward to continued growth and commitment to all our business in Manchester and the North West, as well as the rest of the UK.”