Southampton: Womble makes six appointments to real-estate team

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has strengthened its real-estate sector team in Southampton with six appointments.

Stephen Baker has been appointed as managing associate, joining from CMS and has experience of advising investors and developers on complex real estate matters including the acquisition and disposal of commercial real estate as well as related asset management. He also has expertise in dealing with the real estate aspects of high value corporate and property finance transactions.

Nesa Kayoueche, Hayley Moore, Naomi Bailey and Richard Sims also join as solicitors. Kayoueche joins from Blake Morgan where she advised institutional lenders on the property finance aspects of lending transactions and also corporate occupiers on acquisitions and disposals of leasehold property. 

Kayoueche will advise on acquisitions and disposals of commercial property with a particular focus on the retail sector. 

Moore, previously at CMS where she worked with Stephen Baker, advises real estate investors on the acquisition and disposal of commercial real estate in the retail and leisure sector.

Bailey, previously at Lester Aldridge, was recruited for her expertise in dealing with option agreements and site assembly for developers while Sims, also from Blake Morgan, specialises in commercial property disputes including opposed and unopposed lease renewals, adverse possession claims, dilapidations and recovery of rent arrears.

Finally, WBD's Southampton office welcomed its first solicitor apprentice, Bryony Porter, who joins the new recruits in the real estate sector team. WBD runs a successful apprenticeship programme nationally and was amongst the first law firms to make legal apprenticeships available. It employs a total of 18 apprentices including solicitor apprentices, paralegal apprentices and apprentices working in support teams including HR, facilities and IT.

Anthony Alderman, real estate partner at WBD, said: "Following a series of new instructions from some of our major real estate clients, we're delighted to welcome all our new recruits to the team. They bring a wealth of expertise, having advised on complex regional, national and international projects; and will play an important role in strengthening our real estate offering here in Southampton and across the UK."