NEW REAL ESTATE SECTOR LEAD TO ENHANCE BRABNERS’ PROPERTY OFFERING

Independent law firm Brabners has moved to further strengthen its real estate offering with the appointment of Andrew Waugh as sector lead.

A highly experienced lawyer, developer and commercial director, Andrew will head up Brabners’ more than 95-strong real estate practice, shaping its go-to-market strategy. His appointment also forms part of the firm’s strategic focus on the Manchester market as it looks to grow its client offering in the city and wider North West region.

Andrew brings with him extensive client-side experience having influenced strategy via senior legal and commercial roles within FTSE PLCs and private organisations including Urban Splash.

The new role will also benefit from Andrew’s experience as director of private real estate group 53N which he founded in 2008. Under Andrew’s leadership, the property development and asset management business completed numerous acquisitions while supporting the delivery of complex public and private partnership schemes valued upwards of £150million.

Working with the firm’s partnership, Andrew will support Brabners’ specialist real estate teams as they accelerate growth across areas including development, construction, investment and property management, agriculture and residential.

Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, said: “Brabners has held a close relationship with Andrew for some years and we’ve naturally been keen to add his experience to the team.

“In addition to his legal credentials, his in-depth knowledge of client investment cycles – from purchase and development through to sale and exit – is invaluable and will be a major asset to both the team and our clients at this important time.

“We’ve seen a significant uptick in clients needing timely counsel across the firm since the outbreak of coronavirus and Andrew’s arrival will no doubt have a positive impact on many of those conversations in the weeks and months ahead.”

Andrew Waugh, real estate sector lead at Brabners, said: “We are ultimately in the midst of a period of great challenge across the property industry. As such, I consider it a privilege to lead a team that has real strength in depth and is influencing important decisions across our core markets in the North West.

“Having worked in-house and led development, it’s clear that our clients are looking for advisers with a true understanding of how they operate and the ability to pragmatically manage their partners and suppliers to move projects forward.

“From past and current experience, that skill is well embedded within the team here and something that will be a core focus of our growth in the future.”

Brabners’ real estate team is based in Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. Its clients include Peel L&P, TJ Morris (Home Bargains) and property developer Glenbrook.

Andrew’s appointment follows a successful 12 months in which Brabners posted continued profit and revenue growth and was named in The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For 2020.

The firm generated turnover of £33.6million in the year to the end of April 2019, up from £33.1million the previous year, and invested over £1.8million to boost growth as part of its three-year change programme.