Specialists in commercial property and planning law are merging their complementary expertise to create a new partnership based in Warwickshire.
Liz Williams, an expert in commercial property law, and Lucy Miles, who specialises in planning law, have joined forces to establish The Stoneleigh Partnership at the Rural Innovation Centre at Stoneleigh Park.
Liz and Lucy, both from Kenilworth, have almost 30 years of experience combined in their respective fields and an extensive portfolio of clients throughout the country, ranging from private individuals to national developers.
Liz spent almost a decade at Brethertons LLP Solicitors, based in Rugby, before becoming a sole practitioner. In recent years, she has worked as a consultant to legal and property firms.
Lucy’s career began at top 15 global law firm Reed Smith LLP. Since 2009, she has run her own specialist planning firm based in Kenilworth and continues to work on a consultancy basis for Reed Smith’s former Birmingham office, now specialist commercial firm Hill Hofstetter, which offers advice to leading national and international corporations.
Liz said: “We have both operated independently for some time but have often worked together due to commercial property and planning law being so aligned.”
Lucy added: “It made perfect sense to formally come together and create this partnership built on the well-established and strong portfolio of corporate and individual clients that we already have.”
Liz advises on a host of commercial property matters for clients including large and small businesses, charities, partnerships and individuals acquiring, selling, leasing or developing property of all types.
Lucy acts for developers, businesses of all sizes and private individuals on all aspects of planning law, and is often instructed by planning and property professionals to advise and assist on complex issues.
They believe the improving economic climate, in particular the movement and optimism within the construction and property sectors, bodes well for The Stoneleigh Partnership.
Liz Burkinshaw, manager of the Rural Innovation Centre at Stoneleigh Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Stoneleigh Partnership as our first new business in the Rural Innovation Centre for 2015.
“The central location of Stoneleigh Park makes it ideally placed for the clients it represents throughout England and Wales, and the Rural Innovation Centre provides a modern and professional environment from which to develop.”
The Rural Innovation Centre is part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network, funded by DEFRA and led by Warwickshire County Council on behalf of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The building was refurbished by LaSalle Investment Management as part of its on-going transformation of Stoneleigh Park into a centre of agricultural excellence.