Law firm boosts its real estate credentials in the South West with senior associate appointment

Anna Clifford

Law firm Browne Jacobson has strengthened its real estate offering in the South West with the appointment of senior associate Anna Clifford into its Exeter office.

Anna who came from law firm TLT, previously worked at Browne Jacobson for seven years, having joined the firm as a trainee. Anna specialises in acting for many regional and national housebuilders in relation to the acquisition and disposal of greenfield and brownfield land for development including site assembly, collaboration agreements, ancillary easements and covenants, statutory agreements and transfer of land to public bodies.

Anna will work closely with real estate partner Rebecca Toates, following a busy period for the practice over the last 12 months which has seen it complete a number of major real estate transactions including:

  • acting on the acquisition, development and the funding of Midlands Nuclear advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at Infinity Park, Derby
  • advising in relation to ongoing residential and mixed-use development of the Locking Parklands site in Weston-super-Mare.

Rebecca Toates said: “Our real estate team have had another busy 12 months which has seen a trend in repeat instructions coming from various sectors, including regeneration, house building, registered providers and retail development, in addition to growing demands from new and existing clients based in the South-West region. We envisage this activity to continue over the next 12 months, so it will be great to have Anna on board to support that and to further bolster our growing corporate offering in the South-West.

“We know Anna is a fantastic lawyer who is highly experienced in handling big commercial real estate transactions, but she is also a great example of our O’shaped values and being innovative in her approach which is evident in the quality of her client work. We are delighted to welcome her back to the team.”

Anna added: “I am pleased to be back at the place where it all started for me, which shaped the beginning of my career. Browne Jacobson has a strong national real estate profile, an impressive client portfolio and a real collaborative and people focused culture. It is what I remember them for, so I am delighted be part of that again and to be working with Rebecca and the team and helping to support the sector and its clients in its future strategic objectives.”

Browne Jacobson’s national Construction & Real Estate sector practice is made up of specialist advisers at the forefront of modern legal solutions for the future of the built environment. The practice works with a stellar client portfolio which includes developers, retailers, transport & logistics, major corporates, education organisations, local authorities, social care organisations, fire services, government agencies, housing associations and health trusts. They have expertise on all points of the supply chain with their corporate sector lawyers having a unique insight of both public and private matters and advise on planning, construction, funding, tax, litigation, commercial dispute resolution, ground-breaking infrastructure and regeneration projects and major mixed-use schemes.