SOCIAL HOUSING PARTNER JOINS SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU

Leading full service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed new partner Joanna Lee- Mills to head-up its social housing development team.

Joanna, who qualified in 2001, joins the firm following a career break, prior to which she worked at Anthony Collins Solicitors in Birmingham as departmental manager for the built environment team. Joanna’s expertise encompasses complex housing acquisitions and disposals, and she has a breadth of experience in larger scale projects, including stock rationalisation transactions, stock swaps and transfers.

Having led property teams in delivering projects within strict budgets and timescales, Joanna also has a keen interest in value-added services, having often been the primary interface on multi-disciplinary projects involving cross-departmental working.

Joanna said: “I am delighted to be joining Shakespeare Martineau and extremely excited to be part of its vision, particularly at a time when the legal sector is having to adapt strategically and intuitively to the ever-changing landscapes perpetuated by the pandemic and its resulting challenges.”

Joanna will be primarily based at the firm’s Birmingham hub but will be working with clients nationally. As part

of her role, Joanna will be drawing from her experience acting for private developers, corporate occupiers, and the public and third sectors to provide advice and support to registered provider clients on the broad spectrum of real estate issues that are often a necessary part of the landscape relating to the acquisition, sale and development of housing stock. She said: “I am passionate about lasting relationships and delivering excellence while remaining true to our clients’ and the firm’s values. Every client deserves a truly enhanced experience where they can expect service standards to be tailored to their individual needs and ways of operating.

Joanna’s appointment is the latest in a string of new partner hires as part of the firm’s growth strategy, broadening its footprint both north and south. The firm is proactively seeking talented people to join the firm on its growth journey, including mergers, team recruitment and lateral hires nationally.”