Birmingham-based law firm, Emms Gilmore Liberson (EGL), has significantly boosted its commercial property team with the hire of a new partner.
Jonathan Wright joins EGL from European law firm, Fieldfisher, where he had been a partner for a decade. He will work closely with EGL partner Mark Dakeyne and the commercial property team in developing the firm’s growing portfolio of clients.
Trained at Eversheds 20 years ago, Jonathan joined international firm Reed Smith in 2003. Following the demerger of Hill Hofstetter from Reed Smith in 2008, he became a partner in the newly created business and helped double the size of the team.
Experienced across the commercial property range, Jonathan has a particular focus on property development, renewable energy and privately owned corporate occupiers. He has a client base in both London and the Midlands, including property developers, franchisees, retailers, professional investors, banks, household name manufacturers and renewable energy and infrastructure funds.
Jonathan has acted for local authorities on town centre regeneration projects and personally handled the original financing of the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. He recently assisted an international software company with the acquisition of its new Birmingham HQ.
Jonathan said: “I am very pleased to be joining EGL as a partner in its commercial property team during an exciting stage in the firm’s development.
“As a highly respected law firm known for its experienced professional advice and personal approach, EGL is a perfect fit for my existing clients, both big and small, which is why I made the decision to leave the business I’d been with for over 15 years to join the practice.
“There is a real niche in the market for the kind of services we offer to clients, including property developers, investors and funders. I’ve known Mark Dakeyne for many years principally being on the other side of deals. It will be a real pleasure to now work alongside someone I have so much professional respect for and who shares my values of proactivity and client service. I very much look forward to working with Mark and the hugely talented commercial property team at EGL to grow and develop our client portfolio together.”
EGL partner Mark Dakeyne said: “Jonathan is known for a proactive and responsive approach, working to achieve results for clients whilst maintaining a sense of collaboration with the other lawyers involved. A number of his clients are entrepreneurs who he has worked with for over 15 years assisting in the growth and management of their property portfolios. Already we are finding synergies across the local market including property companies whom we both know well. I know it will be exciting and fun to work alongside Jonathan, whom I’ve admired on the other side of deals for many years.
“The Emms Gilmore Liberson story has been one of continuing growth, with a quality of work that has attracted a first-class team of lawyers to the practice. Jonathan is a gifted lawyer who will add enormous value and resilience to our offering. His appointment gives us the opportunity to make a real step-change in growing both our client base and our standing locally and nationally.”
Founded in 2011, EGL is ranked highly by leading law publication Legal 500 for its commercial property, property litigation, corporate and commercial, licensing, commercial litigation, tax and probate services.