Martineau ups property focus with HBJ Gateley hire

Martineau Johnson has poached a planning lawyer from local rival HBJ Gateley Wareing in a bid to expand its Birmingham planning and environment team.

Iain Johnston is to fill the new post as head of the practice and is expected to capitalise on current major projects and CPO work being undertaken for private and commerical clients, according to property head John Rice.

In his new role he will be part of a wider 50-lawyer property group that has advised on over £1.1bn of deals in the last year.

His experience includes site promotion and regeneration work, planning policy and guidance, planning arrangements and judicial reviews.

Johnston was a senior associate in the planning team of HBJ Gateley Wareing, which is seeking to up its planning capability according to Richard Pettifor, the firm's property head.