Browne Jacobson appoints specialist real estate partner to its Nottingham practice

National law firm Browne Jacobson has strengthened its real estate offering with the appointment of partner Roland Gray into its Nottingham office.

Roland, who is ranked in Band 1 as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ by independent legal directory, Chambers & Partners and a ‘Leading Individual’ in Legal 500 for his work in real estate law, will support the further growth of the firm’s well established real estate practice both regionally and nationally and will support the firm’s retail client portfolio.

Roland specialises in landlord / tenant matters, and property management and land development projects. He has worked with a diverse range of blue- chip companies and organisations that cut across the retail, leisure, industrial and housing sectors. He has particular expertise in carrying out large scale due diligence projects and has acted on a number of key strategic acquisitions and disposals in the public and private sector, including accommodation in PPP projects and public sector mixed-use housing schemes.

Considered as a “standout practice” in the regions, Browne Jacobson’s real estate practice is made up of over 50 sector specialist lawyers and is ranked Band 1 in the East Midlands in Chambers & Partners and Tier 1 in Nottingham and Derby in Legal 500.

The team is recognised for advising commercial tenants, housing groups and public authorities on all areas of the real estate market which includes complex transactional work and delivering major projects across the country including ground-breaking regeneration projects and major mixed-use schemes.

Its impressive client portfolio includes Walgreens Boots Alliance, Wilko Retail, Paperchase Products, PureGym and Homes England amongst others.

Commenting on Roland’s appointment, partner Sarah Parkinson who heads up the firm’s real estate practice said:

“We are delighted to welcome Roland to the team. He is a highly respected, commercially astute lawyer whose breadth of knowledge and experience, particularly in the retail and public sectors will really complement our existing practices.

“He brings with him a wealth of exposure to innovative ways of working with clients with large portfolios which will be a great boost to our already excellent client service offering.

“Roland is very passionate about social mobility and improving the local communities we operate in and there is great synergy with Roland’s values and the firm’s values, culture and commitments in this area. I know that he will be a great fit, not only for our team but for our clients too.

“We are excited to work with Roland on the exciting opportunities we have in the pipeline over the coming months.

Roland Gray added: " I am thrilled and feel privileged to be joining Browne Jacobson’s fantastic real estate practice. The firm has an excellent reputation both nationally and locally and has long been a firm I have watched and admired.

“My experience of managing large teams to support high profile real estate clients will sit very well with the firm’s existing offering and its future aspirations.

“Browne Jacobson has a natural, approachable and yet client-focused style that is very attractive. They are also very socially aware - a firm with a genuine deliverable plan for a sustainable eco-friendly future, with a mindful culture and a focus on the aspirations of the individual, not just the firm.”

“I have a real affinity with the firm’s values and through my association with the NTU Law School, I have watched its un-rivalled commitment to its local community and to social mobility have a real positive impact on Nottingham’s legal community over the last few years. This combined with its focus and ability to adapt to the fast-changing domestic real estate sector made them the obvious choice for me.”

Roland joins the firm from Dentons LLP where he led the ‘Out of London’ real estate team.