Field Fisher Waterhouse hires top property litigation partner
04 September 2008
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP announces today
the appointment of partner Lesley Webber who joins the firm’s
Real Estate Group from Reed Smith.
Lesley joins a seven lawyer-strong Property
Litigation practice, headed by partner Antony Phillips.
Lesley is recognised as one of the UK’s
leading contentious property lawyers and in 2002 was awarded the
OBE for services to the property industry. Widely acknowledged for
the quality of her rent review work, she has successfully
undertaken some of the most challenging recent reviews, including
several in the core West End sector.
Lesley has particular expertise in finding
solutions to complex problems relating to redevelopment and lease
renewals, dilapidations and service charges. She also advises
on contentious and non-contentious planning matters, where her work
has included devising and negotiating innovative planning gain
arrangements, such as those for the Shard of Light.
Lesley also acts as an arbitrator, with
appointments from the RICS, Law Society and Chartered Institute of
Arbitrators, and as a legal assessor to surveyor-arbitrators and
independent experts. She is a fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Arbitrators and an honorary member of Arbrix.
Seen as a particular friend and support to the surveying
profession, she was recently made an honorary member of the RICS, a
rare acknowledgement for a solicitor. A member of the Government’s
Property Advisory Group for seven years, she is currently a member
of its Commercial Property Group.
Lesley has worked in the field of property law
for over 25 years, advising a diverse client base from central
government departments and major international corporations to
newspaper groups and retail and restaurant chains. Prior to joining
Reed Smith, Lesley headed the Property Litigation Groups at
Beachcroft Wansbroughs and DLA Piper.
Lesley is the latest in a number of lateral
hires for the firm’s Real Estate Group. Last year, property finance partners John Nelmes and Richard
Green joined the firm from Davies Arnold Cooper and planning partner Sarah
Youren joined from Denton Wilde Sapte.
Paul Houston, Head
of Real Estate at Field Fisher Waterhouse, said: “We are delighted
to welcome Lesley to the firm. Her expertise will add
significantly to our property litigation practice, headed up by
Antony Phillips, and will further strengthen our planning
capability following the appointment of Sarah Youren at the end of
last year.”
Lesley Webber said: “I am really looking
forward to working in such an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial
firm. Field Fisher Waterhouse’s diverse spread of expertise and
experience works extremely well for me and my clients, as does the
excellent level of support within Antony’s team.”
For further press information please
contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager,
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4120