Our highly regarded construction team has changes afoot from 1 April, when it will be bolstered with the appointment of 2 new partners, Natalie Pilagos and Brad Fearn. Natalie is a construction disputes lawyer experienced in all forms of dispute resolution including adjudication, mediation, arbitration and litigation. She works closely with transactional colleagues and clients to anticipate issues before they arise and prevent disputes from escalating. Brad is a transactional construction lawyer and whilst, like Natalie, he deals with all forms of construction projects in a broad range of sectors including commercial property, offices, retail, student accommodation, health care and later living, he has a particular specialism in the logistics sector in which he acts for some major landowners and developers. Natalie and Brad joined Wedlake Bell 6 months and 2 years ago respectively and coincidentally worked together at a previous city firm and are pleased to be doing so again at Wedlake Bell.
Suzanne Reeves who founded the construction team and was until 2 years ago head of team will retire as partner on 1 April, but is staying on as a consultant. She says “I am delighted that the construction team is in such good shape. Sarah Elliott has done a great job as team head over the last 2 years and Natalie and Brad’s promotions to the partnership will ensure that the team continues to go from strength to strength in advising on the needs of all our real estate and construction clients”.
Sarah comments “Brad and Natalie’s practices perfectly complement our current offering and I am pleased to be taking the team forward to a bright future with such fantastic colleagues”.
Our commercial property team is also pleased to announce that Harriet Forster has been promoted to partner with effect from 1 April. Harriet joined the team in 2014 from another city firm. Her main focus is on residential development, and clients include major housebuilders, SME developers and landowners. She also undertakes mainstream commercial property work, acting primarily for investors and developers.
David de Maupeou, head of the commercial property team says “Harriet has been such a valuable and popular member of the commercial property group, and in particular the Housebuilder team, and I’m thrilled that has been rewarded with her promotion to partner. I know she will bring huge amounts to the partnership and I very much look forward to supporting her with that“.
The whole QIA team would like to congratulate Brad, Harriet and Natalie on their promotions and we wish them every success.