Geldards strengthens Commercial Property and Public Services teams with senior appointments

Geldards has strengthened its Commercial Property team with the appointment of experienced public sector Partner Neil Walker who joined at the start of July.

Geldards Commercial Property team is accredited with a Tier 1 ranking in the Legal 500 Directory, acting for clients in both the private and public sector, advising on major infrastructure and regeneration projects nationwide including advising Derby City Council on the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme.

Neil joins from Browne Jacobson where he spent the last eleven years, most recently as Legal Director in the Built Environment team. He brings with him over 25 years’ experience having forged a career specialising in property development, investment and dealing with complex regeneration and commercial property projects for the public sector.

Neil’s appointment follows hot on the heels of the appointment of Owen Willcox, a Senior Associate who joined the Public Services team at the beginning of June. Owen returns to Geldards, having previously worked for the firm for 3 years in a public sector role and joins from Thomson Reuters where he was Senior Public Procurement Editor in the Public Law team. Owen will bolster the Public Services team providing advice to public sector clients to meet rising demand.

Commenting on the appointments, Chairman David Williams said:

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Neil to the Commercial Property  team, his Public Sector expertise will build on the huge success the team has already achieved. We are also delighted to welcome back Owen, his broad-ranging knowledge and experience will further boost our Public Services team. Geldards enjoy an excellent reputation advising on major regeneration projects, providing complex specialist legal advice and we are delighted that both these appointments will strengthen our offer further.”

Neil Walker commented:

“I’m delighted to have joined and to have been so warmly welcomed by Geldards, a firm with a great reputation in many areas, including work for the public sector.  I am looking forward to working with David, Owen, fellow Public Sector partners Paul Hilsdon and Clare Hardy and our colleagues in the wider teams in further developing our public sector practice and offer, and in delivering great service to our local authority and other public sector clients.”