Browne Jacobson bolsters Real Estate team with two partner appointments

UK & Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has appointed Darren Ashworth and Tom Cressey as partners to the firm’s Manchester-based Real Estate team. Together with existing partners Dominic Buckley and Victoria Thourgood they will lead and grow the 20-person Real Estate team based in Manchester, increasing the size of the overall Real Estate team to over 100+ people across the firm’s seven-office network.

Darren joins from Trowers & Hamlins and brings considerable experience of advising on a broad range of real estate matters, with key clients including property investors and developers, government bodies, local authorities, registered providers and other public sector organisations.

Darren acts on development and regeneration schemes, property acquisitions and disposals and landlord and tenant work. His career highlights include working on real estate aspects of the London 2012 Olympics project, assisting a top Premier League club with a stadium related development and acting for both public and private sector bodies on a number of major development and regeneration schemes.

Tom, who joins from JMW Solicitors, has more than twenty years’ experience in the North West property market, with particular expertise in private sector development projects. His clients include notable regional and UK developers and investors (including in the Build to Rent space), as well as local authorities.

Sarah Parkinson, Partner and Head of Real Estate at Browne Jacobson, said: “Darren and Tom joining our team is a coup for our Real Estate practice and, in particular, our focus on growth in the North West real estate sector. Both are quality operators with a proven track record in the Manchester and National market. They will add energy and focus to our growing developer offering and we are really excited to start working and collaborating together.”

Darren Ashworth, Partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “Browne Jacobson has made waves in the North West legal market since its office launch in 2012, and the growth seen in the last 12 years has been truly impressive. I’m very much looking forward to working to contribute to its continued success in growing the firm’s Real Estate offering, ensuring that clients can rely upon us to deliver what matters most to them.”

Tom Cressey, Partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “It’s fantastic to be joining Browne Jacobson. The firm’s Real Estate team has an exceptional reputation in the market for being able to undertake complex work for large regional, national and international clients. In addition, the firm’s client service is highly regarded – and as a lawyer who has this at the heart of everything I do I felt Browne Jacobson would be a perfect fit.”.