Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed three new experts to its residential development team, including partner Kevin Joynes, legal director Fiona Martin and solicitor Joe Davies, located at the firm’s Solihull, Stratford and Birmingham hubs, respectively.
Kevin Joynes has more than 20 years’ experience working in private practice as well as client-side during his time as legal director at Bovis Homes. Kevin provides cradle to grave support to developers and land owners, specialising in both immediate and strategic land transactions. With a deep understanding of the entire process, from the cost of bricks, to wider market issues, Kevin also provides strategic advice for developers across the Midlands and nationally.
Strategic development projects specialist Fiona Martin, joins the firm from Wright Hassall. Supporting the entire development life cycle, Fiona acts for clients in the acquisition, promotion and disposal of sites for residential and mixed use developments, with particular expertise supporting private landowners.
Solicitor Joe Davies assists on the disposal and acquisition of sites for residential development. Joe has experience acting for regional developers with a particular focus on disposals to Housing Associations and deals with complex lease transactions from both perspective of tenants and landlords.
Kevin said: “I was attracted to Shakespeare Martineau because of its reputation in the development sector and its positive culture. I’m particularly looking forward to adding my expertise and experience to an already impressive team and, ultimately, to further enhancing our reputation in the residential development sector.
“For me, the most satisfying part of the work I do is working with clients to create desirable homes and communities for people to live and work in. I particularly love seeing completed developments and comparing how the finished article compares with the original ideas and concepts.”
Neil Gosling, head of residential development at Shakespeare Martineau said: “Each year we act on the sale of more than 5,000 plots and support clients with buying the land and securing planning permission for tens of thousands of homes.
“We now have more than 50 residential development experts across our national team and with the recruitment of Kevin, Fiona and Joe, continue to build our reputation as a market-leading team. We are working on larger and more complex projects for our clients, many of which have grown over the years and we’ve supported them on that journey with both legal and strategic advice.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Fiona and Joe to the team and delighted to have Kevin join us as partner.”
Joanna Deffley partner and head of West Midlands region at Shakespeare Martineau said: “Our West Midlands region and residential development team is growing from strength to strength. While the development market temporarily stalled at the start of the pandemic we’ve seen it make up for lost time and projects accelerated.”
The residential development team appointments follow a raft of announcements including new head of Birmingham Clive Read, and multiple appoints across East Midlands.
Shakespeare Martineau is proactively seeking mergers, acquisitions, team recruitment and lateral hires in the Midlands and nationally.
Getting to know Kevin Joynes, Partner...
What attracted you to Shakespeare Martineau?
I have previously worked with a number of employees at Shakespeare Martineau, including Neil Gosling, who is one of my best friends. They all speak very highly of the firm and, specifically, the culture at Shakespeare Martineau. Many other firms pay lip service to issues around staff welfare and health & wellbeing but it is obvious that at Shakespeare Martineau it is a genuine business priority.
What do you hope to achieve while working with us?
I hope that, by joining the Residential Development Team at Shakespeare Martineau, I will be able to reconnect with contacts I have made with those in the housebuilding industry over the last 20 years. I believe that, together with the existing team at Shakespeare Martineau, I can help to enhance the firm’s already positive reputation in the sector. Ultimately, I believe we can challenge some of the other city firms, and be regarded as a genuine alternative to them. Most of all, I believe we can achieve that whilst staying true to the firm’s culture.
Tell us more about what you find exciting about your area of expertise
I have worked with residential developers for the last 20 years, including almost 3 years in-house at a national housebuilder. I really enjoy working as part of a team of experts to plan and create desirable homes and communities for people to live and work in. I particularly love seeing completed developments and comparing how the finished article compares with the original ideas and concepts!
