Commercial real estate partner duo adds breadth to Penningtons Manches Cooper’s Birmingham office

Posted: 03/07/2023

Top 50 law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper has announced the appointment of two new partners to its rapidly growing Birmingham office.

Andrew Mellor and James Gooch, both highly experienced commercial real estate specialists, join the firm from the Birmingham office of Shakespeare Martineau. 

Andrew has a focus on complex real estate developments, and advises clients in relation to both commercial and mixed use sites. His major clients include developers of industrial and logistics schemes and multi-use city centre and edge of town regeneration schemes, including student accommodation and build to rent schemes. He is recognised as a leading individual in The Legal 500, a prominent legal directory.

James has a varied practice, acting for investors, developers and occupiers in the industrial, residential, office and retail sectors across the Midlands. He has a strong reputation in the regional market for a practical approach to deal making, having successfully completed a number of high profile transactions in recent years for clients including Opus Land and Jessup Partnerships. He is also ranked by the leading legal directories, where clients and peers have praised his depth of knowledge.

Penningtons Manches Cooper established its Birmingham office in 2019 as its first UK site outside of London and the South East with the recruitment of real estate partner Joel Kordan. It has since successfully attracted a number of leading lawyers as it continues to grow its regional presence. Following the recruitment of partners Adam McGiveron, Emma Bryant and Richard Wrigley in 2021 and senior associate Andy Rushfirth, a banking specialist, in 2022, its corporate practice has gone from strength to strength, advising on numerous successful transactions.

The office also boasts the expertise of intellectual property partner Dr Lisa Page – who has a focus on the life sciences sector and is the director of membership group, the West Midlands’ Health Technologies Cluster – and consultant Hugo Stephens, one of the country’s leading social housing lawyers. Clients also benefit from employment law advice provided by local specialists.

Helen Drayton, Penningtons Manches Cooper’s CEO, commented: “We’re incredibly pleased to welcome Andrew and James to the firm. They’re a great fit for both the Birmingham team, and for our wider real estate practice. Supporting the continued expansion of our Birmingham office is a key part of our UK strategy; their excellent experience and local knowledge of the local commercial property market is an important step in our journey. We look forward to working with them.”

Partner James Nadin, who leads the firm’s commercial property practice said: “Andrew and James are both excellent lawyers with first-class skills and experience. As well as being great additions to the our real estate team nationally, they will be instrumental in delivering for clients at the highest level across the Midlands, helping to drive the growth of our practice in this key region.”

Andrew Mellor said: “Penningtons Manches Cooper has established a great reputation in the Birmingham business community over the last few years. We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with a talented and committed team of colleagues and help contribute to the ongoing growth and success of the office.”

James Gooch added: “The firm’s strong national brand and exceptionally broad range of services offers significant long term growth potential in the regional market and is also a real, immediate advantage to ambitious clients with complex requirements.”

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