Watson Burton aiming for recruitment drive in county

Joanne Sears has joined the Leeds-based team at Watson Burton, and she expects to win more work as the residential property market starts to recover following the slump caused by the global financial crisis.

“After a few bleak years, the real estate market is still slow, but nevertheless, alive and kicking,’’ Ms Sears said yesterday.

She joins the £12.6m turnover firm as an associate in the commercial real estate team.

Ms Sears, who previously spent five years working for DLA Piper, is the seventh lawyer to join Watson Burton this year.

Newcastle-based Watson Burton started a trend by opening its Leeds office in 2005. At the time, Watson Burton said its growth had been partly achieved by winning work outside the north east, which prompted its decision to set up a base in Yorkshire.

It was the first major north east law firm to expand into Leeds.

Initially, the firm had just three partners based in Leeds.

Today, Watson Burton has a team of 20 in Leeds, and there are plans to expand during the financial year.

In recent years, rival north east firms Ward Hadaway and Dickinson Dees have also set up a Leeds offices as they bid to gain a share of the fiercely competitive Yorkshire legal market.

Ms Sears said yesterday: “My role is newly created, which demonstrates the firm’s increased volume of work and commitment to growth.

“I decided to take on this role after meeting two of the real estate partners, Tracy Hall and George Parker-Fuller, as I was impressed with their drive and enthusiasm.

“I was also impressed by the quality and the variety of work the real estate team carries out in Leeds and Newcastle, which will allow me to build on my experience.”

She has acted for commercial landlords in relation to landlord and tenant law, and she has also been involved in freehold disposals by private treaty and auction. She recently acted for major retailers in connection with property acquisitions, and provided advice on the property aspects of asset purchase and share purchase agreements. Ms Sears has also managed a nationwide programme of more than 80 store refurbishments and lease variations for a national chemist.

Ms Sears will work with colleagues in the real estate group to provide services to national clients on property issues ranging from acquisitions, site assembly and disposals to leasing, financing and joint venture agreements.

Tracy Hall, the head of real estate at Watson Burton, predicted that Ms Sears’ appointment would provide a significant boost to the firm’s real estate group.

Ms Sears said the residential and healthcare sectors had been areas of growth over the last 18 months, and she hoped these trends would continue.

Watson Burton dates from 1811. Under the management of Joseph and Robert Spence Watson, the firm worked with some of Britain’s great innovators during the 1800s.

Its notable successes included helping the inventor Joseph Swan to secure patent protection for the carbon filament light bulb.