Camerons is capitalising on Bristol’s lower cost base to recruit a 15-strong plot sales team and plans to relocate a senior lawyer from London to run the practice.
As revealed by The Lawyer last week, Camerons emerged victorious from a hard-fought tender and will share Taylor Woodrow’s £6m property legal spend with Eversheds.
However, Camerons can not currently resource the same volume of plot sales work as the national firm.
The decision to set up a team is an unprecedented step for Camerons. It previously carried out only a
limited amount of Taylor Woodrow plot sales work from London for high-grade residential schemes, such as Montevetro in Battersea. This is the first time it has set up a discreet practice in its own offices for a client.
The move also reflects a shift in Taylor Woodrow’s business away from stand-alone commercial development in favour of residential and mixed-use schemes. It also follows the decision of general counsel Jeremy Sampson to cut a 14-strong in-house team which deals with land acquisition work, residential sales and conveyancing.
Camerons partner Mark Heighton, who runs the long-standing relationship with Nick Brown, said the idea of a Bristol team was always part of its tender proposal. “As the volume of plot sales grows – which we believe will happen because of Taylor Woodrow’s expansion plans – the team will increase to 20 in the next 18 months to two years.”
Lord Lester to head Human Rights Lawyers Assoc
The Human Rights Lawyers Association will be launched on 27 February by barristers, solicitors, academics and other lawyers at the Parliament Chamber of the Inner Temple. Lord Lester, who campaigned for 30 years for a human rights act, is to be president designate. Charles Bourne of 2 Harcourt Buildings (Roger Henderson QC), will be chairman. […]