Shoosmiths property partner defects to Warner Cranston

City firm Warner Cranston is taking on a new commercial property partner from nat-ional practice Shoosmiths.

Mary Anderson is joining Warner Cranston's Coventry office after spending six years as a partner at Shoosmiths in the Midlands. Before that Anderson spent six years as a partner at Mishcon de Reya in London.

Anderson specialises in major development and secured lending work, and says that she is going to Warner Cranston because of the quality of the firm's client base.

"Warner Cranston is the sort of firm that has got some very good quality clients and does the sort of property work that I have been used to," she says.

"It's the sort of work one would associate with the big Birmingham firms."

Warner Cranston established its West Midlands office - its only office outside London - when the entire in-house litigation team from Courtaulds moved to the firm.

Anderson says that the arrival of the Courtaulds team, combined with the recruitment of DLA property partner David Hayes a few years ago, attracted her to the practice.

Head of commercial property Hayes says: "Mary is a very experienced property lawyer who is extremely well connected with major businesses in the Midlands.

"We are increasingly regarded as a major player in the Midlands and a real alternative to some of our larger competitors."

Warner Cranston has six commercial property partners with three in London and three in Coventry.