Midlands law firm Lodders has recruited planning and environmental law specialist Victoria Longmore as an associate in its Real Estate team.
With extensive experience acting for national housebuilders, investment funds and landed estate clients, Victoria is recognised for her dedicated planning and environmental law expertise and advice.
She joins after 18-months at Stratford upon Avon firm Zyda Law, where she acted on a range of national projects, including a development consent order for an underground gas storage project for INEOS.
She was previously with Wragge Lawrence Graham’s Birmingham office for five years, where she completed her training and qualified, acting for a broad range of UK housebuilders.
Her appointment represents a significant boost for Lodders’ Real Estate offering – Victoria’s planning law specialism enhances and complements the firm’s scoping real estate services, and in particular its niche highways and rights of way law practice that is spearheaded by Michael Orlik, one of the UK’s leading authorities on the law of Highways and Rights of Way.
“Recruiting such a highly experienced planning solicitor is a significant step for the firm and Victoria further improves our Highways Law practice that frequently deals with planning enquiries from commercial property and developer clients,“ comments Michael Orlik.
Lodders’ Real Estate team, which now has fifteen fee earners, is regarded as one of the strongest in the Midlands for both residential development and commercial property work. Victoria’s is the most recent in a string of specialist appointments by the team; earlier this year residential development specialist James Mottram and commercial property solicitor Anna Turnell joined as associates from Birmingham based city firms.
Paul Mourton, a partner in Lodders’ Real Estate team adds: “The firm is committed to providing a comprehensive and full service to clients and we are strategically building the Real Estate team to ensure we can maintain our levels of client service in the improving market, with Victoria’s appointment the latest in a number of significant additions, with further senior hires planned for the coming months.
“By enhancing our offering and expertise we are equipped to provide a match of agile and skilful legal advice to meet clients’ requirements across the residential development and commercial property sectors for now and the longer term.“
Victoria adds: “Lodders has a fabulous client base and an excellent reputation, particularly its Real Estate team and its Highways and Rights of Way practice. I am looking forward to working with Michael Orlik in developing the firm’s niche offering, as well as supporting the firm’s growing and busy Real Estate team.”
Lodders Real Estate team acts on behalf of national and regional commercial property developers, residential property developers, investment companies, private investors and funders.