DLA Piper scores hire of Leeds construction duo from Addleshaws
DLA Piper has hired two partners from Addleshaw Goddard, including the latter’s head of contentious construction.
Stephen Sly
Mark Hilton, who currently splits his time between Leeds and London, and Leeds-based Simon Palmer will both join DLA Piper as partners in its London and Sheffield offices respectively.
Both partners join DLA Piper’s real estate group as part of the construction and engineering practice, specialising in dispute resolution.
The duo joins from Addleshaws, where Hilton was head of contentious construction. Hilton and Palmer moved to the firm in 2005 from Squire Sanders legacy firm Hammonds (2 March 2005).
In a statement, DLA Piper international litigation and regulatory head Stephen Sly said: “Mark and Simon are strong and high-profile contentious construction lawyers with strong commercial acumen. It is great news for both our real estate and litigation and regulatory teams to have them on board. They have established strong reputations not only in the UK, but also the Middle East and Asia which are key markets.”
The hires come amid DLA Piper losing four real estate partners in Manchester to rival Irwin Mitchell (19 October 2012), including Manchester property head Anita Weightman.
Readers' comments (12)
Anon | 31-Oct-2012 2:56 pm
Addleshaw Goddard seems to be in full scale meltdown.
They should have used the good years to do some mergers and gain critical mass.
Complacency has led straight to crisis.
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Anonymous | 31-Oct-2012 3:51 pm
But despite appearances to the contrary the bb litigation looks to have been good business. Agree that Leeds is a bit of an issue but hardly meltdown per se.
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Anonymous | 31-Oct-2012 5:22 pm
I suspect AG don't need two offices up north so it wouldn't surprise if they consolidate. Northerners are not great travellers so some will undoubtedly go elsewhere,
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 8:32 am
"AG don't need two offices up north" shows a Southerner's lack of understanding. Most large professional firms work from a Leeds and a Manchester office, each covering one side of the pennines but with a lot of cross-working and supporting each other with specialists. Northerners do a lot of travelling but clients resist crossing the pennines.
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 9:32 am
rips the heart out of AG's Law Rocks band....
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Alvin Stardust | 1-Nov-2012 10:19 am
Talking of Law Rocks, when are Demolition going to play again ? I love them. What a band.
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 10:24 am
I imagine the associates in AG's construction team will be relieved.
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 10:37 am
This simply reflects the changes in the construction industry. As DLA says they'll be focussing on the Middle East and Asia markets.
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 12:23 pm
As far as the band is concerned, I am sure it will live on in a new form. Simon Palmer had already been replaced on bass and a new lead singer was long overdue!!
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 12:25 pm
I suspect the departure of the older generation will allow the AG team to forge ahead with new ideas and go on to build a bigger and stronger business
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2012 3:55 pm
The new AG band, the "No Homers" is already up and running with a full line up.
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Sandy | 6-Nov-2012 4:55 pm
"They have established strong reputations not only in the UK, but also the Middle East and Asia which are key markets.”
Kings of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, Sheffield and Leeds. Hilarious.
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