Yorkshire law firm Gordons extends commercial property offering with new solicitor appointments
Monday 14th November 2011
Yorkshire law firm Gordons has grown its leading commercial property team with the appointment of solicitors Michael Finnett and Sarah Ratcliffe.
The newcomers have both joined from rival Leeds practices, as Michael and Sarah had been with Ford & Warren and Eversheds respectively since 2002.
Michael is identified in key sector publication Chambers Legal Directory 2011/12 as an Associate to Watch, a designation recognising his contribution to major deals. The directory says: “Clients appreciate that he moves at speed and gets jobs done quickly.”
His clients are based across the country and include further education colleges, retailers, charities, property investors and developers. Michael’s experience includes the intra-group transfer of several thousand properties, worth more than £134m, for a FTSE-350 national pub company, a role which included the due diligence work.
Sarah has particular experience of acting for commercial and residential developers. She advised Thornfield Properties on their town centre regeneration at the Rock, in Bury, and has represented Priority Sites on several industrial and office developments in the north-east and at Hull’s Humber Quays waterfront business scheme. Her experience also includes acting for project management and construction group Lend Lease on high value lettings to retailers at the flagship Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Commenting on his appointment, Michael said he was delighted to have joined a firm as dynamic as Gordons, especially during a period of sustained growth for the practice. He said: “I look forward to working with Gordons’ clients and providing the excellent quality of service for which the organisation is well-known.”
Sarah said she was also excited to be part of the firm’s commercial property team. She said: “Gordons has developed an excellent reputation in the market for its straightforward, client-focused approach. There’s a real feeling of energy and ambition at the business, and I’m looking forward very much to being part of that.”