Pinsent Masons Bristol property team defects en masse to Clarke Willmott

Pinsent Masons has lost its entire Brisol-based real estate practice to South West firm Clarke Willmott.

The six-lawyer team consists of partners Bonnie Martin, Beverley Pike and Nicola Seager alongside two senior associates and an assistant lawyer.

Pike was the head of Pinsent Masons’ Bristol commercial property group. Martin specialises in contentious property and development and Seager advises on property development and management issues.

Martin said: “We’re all excited to move to a firm which places property at the very core of its business.”

A Pinsent Masons spokesperson said the defections did not affect the firm’s core construction practice in Bristol.

The move comes as Clarke Wilmott continues to boost its property presence following this year’s hire of construction and real estate teams from Bristol rival Laytons.