Partners on board as JMW grows property team

Law firm JMW Solicitors has added to its real estate team with the appointment of two partners, Ruth McCarthy and Abdul Salam.

McCarthy is leading the real estate commercial team together with long standing JMW partner Ian Gordon. She succeeds Jim Banfi, who will continue as a consultant with the team, acting for Brookhouse Group and other key clients. He recently led the team acting for Brookhouse on the 160-acre Cuerden strategic development site in Lancashire.

She joined from Berg, now Kennedys, where she was also a partner and head of real estate. She specialises in property finance and acts for clients including Primesite Developments.

Salam has started with the firm, having arrived from Gateley, where he had worked for more than 15 years. He works across all areas in commercial real estate but specialises in acquisitions and disposals of investment properties, owner occupier work and acting for high net worth individuals.

In December, the real estate team, now numbering 130 people, moved into 14,000 sq ft at 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, close to the firm’s main office. The department comprises commercial, residential and financial teams and has grown by 35 people since May 2017. The commercial team billed £4m in 2017, a 23% year-on-year increase.

Joy Kingsley, senior partner at JMW, said: “Ruth and Abdul are both excellent additions to the firm and bring with them a wealth of experience across all areas of commercial real estate.

“We have been able to attract new recruits at all levels, despite a difficult recruitment market. As well as the 15 lawyers who have joined the real estate team since 1 May 2017, we have another eight waiting to start so at the present time we are in the enviable position of having filled all our real estate vacancies.

“We are sure that Ruth and Ian will build on the successful growth achieved under Jim Banfi.”