... as it loses leading retail partner to Irwin Mitchell

Leading property lawyer Frewin Jenkins has left Manches & Co to join Irwin Mitchell's commercial property team as a partner.

Jenkins, who specialises in retail and service charges, will be joining an expanding team that works with high-street clients, such as Thorntons, Minit UK and Etam.

Her arrival at the London office comes just days after partner Hugo Stephens announced that he is quitting Irwin Mitchell for rival firm Pinsent Curtis (The Lawyer, 7 August).

Head of commercial property at Irwin Mitchell, Kevin Docherty, is looking forward to the insight she will bring to her new role within the firm.

"Retail work is already one of our core strengths and the arrival of Frewin in London adds further depth to our national team," he says.

Of her appointment Jenkins says: "Irwin Mitchell is that rare thing: a major firm which is on the rise in London and has excellent resources across the country.

"I join the firm at an enormously exciting time and am looking forward to the challenge ahead."

Jenkins worked at Freshfields, Herbert Smith and SJ Berwin before joining Manches.