Thrings Boosts Commercial Property Offering with Twin Appointment

Leading commercial law firm Thrings has appointed two new solicitors to its fast-growing commercial property team as a result of continued organic growth and a series of new client wins.

Associate Steve Schofield and solicitor Beth Nicholls will further strengthen Thrings’ commercial property and construction offering across the firm’s four main UK offices in Bristol, Bath, Swindon and London.

Steve joins Thrings after spending more than 11 years at Guildford-based Stevens & Bolton, where his clients included a FTSE 100 distribution and outsourcing company and one of the UK’s largest estate agency groups.

In addition to specialising in corporate occupancy, Steve has advised developers and landowners on site assembly, development agreements, pre-lets and disposals, and banks and borrowers on real estate finance and development deals.

In his new role, he will act for a number of Thrings’ small and medium-sized residential clients on development and investment matters, as well as providing strategic advice on corporate occupancy.

Beth arrives at Thrings having qualified as a solicitor in September. She dealt with a variety of commercial and residential property transactions – including leases and licences – in her first legal role at Rochman Landau in London before completing her training with Ashfords.

Working across Thrings’ South West practice group, Beth, who is also fluent in Italian, will provide advice to clients on a range of property issues, including investments, secured lending and residential and leisure-based developments.

As a result of ongoing investment in clients during the economic downturn, Thrings’ commercial property offering continues to prosper, with advice provided to local, regional, national and international clients contributing to growth of 20 per cent in the year ending 30 April 2014.

The team, which has doubled in size since 2008, was bolstered earlier this year with the appointment of three further commercial property specialists, partner Edward Jackman, associate Iain Mason and construction solicitor Natalia Sokolov.

Warren Reid, head of commercial property at Thrings, said: “Improving economic conditions and a resurgence in the South West commercial property market has led to increased levels of activity for many of our existing clients. This has created an opportunity for Thrings to expand its offering to clients and reaffirm its commitment to the regional market.

“A focus on building strong and lasting relationships with clients has stood Thrings in good stead for many years, and it is this approach which has led to our commercial property team enjoying sustained organic growth and attracting a number of new clients.

“As a firm we continue to support and invest in our associates and solicitors, providing them with opportunities to develop their careers and grow their own particular practice area. We look forward to seeing Steve and Beth drive Thrings forward in line with its ambitious expansion plans through the provision of specialist legal advice to our high-quality and diverse commercial property client base.”