Browne Jacobson announces new Head and Deputy Heads of Office appointments

Browne Jacobson has announced new head and deputy head of office appointments for its Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester offices.

The three-year appointments will take effect from May 2022, with each head and deputy head combining their new responsibilities with their existing client facing role within their specialist area of expertise.

The firm has also appointed partners Kay Chand, Ian Long and Rob Wofinden to a new Nottingham office board to focus on people engagement and collaboration, networking and culture.

Richard Medd, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “These new appointments play a critical role in strengthening the management structure in place in each office as well as helping to drive regional office growth and build strong relationships between our people, with clients and with local organisations.

“I would like to congratulate all the partners on their successful appointments and pay tribute to their predecessors for their excellent work in representing and managing our teams locally over the last five years and playing a key role as part of the post Covid return to the office.”

Birmingham

The firm’s Birmingham office will be jointly led by partners Rachel Lyne and Mike Jackson.

Rachel is a regulatory lawyer with extensive experience advising clients in association with investigations and enforcement action brought by the Health & Safety Executive, the Police, Food Standards Agency, Environmental Health Officers, the Environment Agency and Fire Authorities. Rachel also has an extensive public inquires practice advising most recently on the COVID-19, Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena public inquiries. As well as Rachel’s contentious work she also undertakes advisory work for a range of clients on all regulatory issues including food, fire safety, health and safety and product safety and compliance.

Mike is a well-known and experienced corporate lawyer and a tech and venture capital specialist. Mike regularly advises corporates, institutional investors and high growth tech companies on M&A, growth capital and cross-border transactions.

Exeter

The new head of the firm’s Exeter office is partner Nigel Lyons with partner Claire Cornish appointed deputy head.

Nigel joined the firm’s Exeter office in 2014 and specialises in all types of contentious regulatory advocacy, with a particular focus on the agricultural sector, together with expertise in representing both public and private sector clients on health and safety and environmental matters. Nigel has also held a number of prestigious positions including President of the Devon and Somerset Law Society (DASLS) for 2019-20 and President of Plymouth Law Society.

Claire is a disputes resolution lawyer, specialising in the defence of claims brought against professionals. She has extensive experience in defending solicitor negligence claims and advising professional indemnity insurers in respect of policy coverage issues. Claire is also a member of Business in the Community’s South West Leadership Regional Board.

London

Partner and head of commercial and intellectual property Declan Cushley has been re-appointed as head of London with commercial property partner Susan Voice appointed deputy head.

Declan is a leading intellectual property specialist, advising clients on a variety of brand and intellectual property issues, providing advice to clients on IP strategy, brand protection, IP development and exploitation. Declan is also a member of the firm's partnership board and Chairman of Pangea Net, an international network of independent law firms.

Susan has nearly 15 years’ experience in commercial property law, acting for a broad range of clients including high street and luxury retailers, art galleries (including overseas exhibitors) and charities. Her extensive experience includes acting on landlord and tenant matters, disposals, acquisitions, lending and re-finance of retail sites (high street stores, retail parks and shopping centres), office buildings and development projects.

Manchester

Partner Peter Allen has been appointed head of Manchester with commercial property partner Dominic Buckley appointed deputy head.

Peter joined Browne Jacobson in 2019 and has over 25 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer, spent both in the North West and prior to that in the City of London. He has a stellar reputation in the Manchester mid-market deal space and particularly for providing pragmatic and hands-on guidance to owners and managers of businesses to help them through complex transactions including fundraising's, acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures (domestically and internationally).

Dominic was one of the first recruits to the Manchester office. Since joining in 2013 he has built up the 10 strong commercial property team which specialises in residential development work (both in the public and private sector) and in the health sector.