Paul Ayre, Managing Partner
Paul Ayre is the Managing Partner of Gordons and a Partner in the commercial property department.
Paul joined the firm in 1992 before becoming a partner in 1994. He has, for many years, been ranked as one of the leading lawyers in the regional commercial property market and has a strong reputation amongst clients for providing practical, pragmatic advice. He is regularly involved in a number of high profile transactions throughout the country with particular emphasis on retail development and investment.
Paul continues to lead the team acting as principal legal adviser to Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc in relation to superstore site acquisitions and related development. In 2008 he acted for the company in one of the biggest deals of the year being the acquisition and development of a 900,000 sq ft Regional Distribution Centre at Sittingbourne, Kent and in 2010 he acted on the acquisition and development of a new 800,000 sq ft South West Regional Distribution Centre at Bridgwater, Somerset.
His other clients include; Hallmark Cards, Findel plc, Saint Gobain Building Distribution and Eshton Property Developments. A new client in 2011 is Bosideng, one of the largest retailers in China for whom Paul is dealing with their entry into the UK market.
During his time as Managing Partner, Paul has led Gordons through a period of dynamic and sustained growth which has seen the firm develop from its Bradford roots to become one of the Region's leading Law Firms and one of the UK's top 100 Law Firms.
Paul is a business mentor for the Yorkshire Post's Local Business Accelerators scheme, offering free support to up and coming businesses in the local market. The Scheme is part of a national campaign backed by David Cameron and the Director General of the CBI, John Cridland
In 2011, Paul developed and launched Gordons' annual legal apprenticeship programme. The four-year programme aims annually to provide five bright youngsters, who might otherwise find it difficult to enter the legal profession, with the opportunity to build a career in the Law without attending University. The programme has attracted widespread support amongst clients.
Paul has been quoted in The Times, The Guardian and The Lawyer about the Gordons Apprenticeship Programme, please see the links below to read these articles:
The Lawyer - Gordons launches legal apprenticeship for school leavers
The Times - The apprentice lawyer - is this the new route into law?
The Guardian - Law firms are opening up to non-graduates
For more information about Gordons Apprenticeship Programme, please click here.