Ashtons Legal has appointed Sheila Small as a commercial property partner in the firm taking the total number of partners to 36. She is joined by a further 350 staff across East Anglia and Leeds. It is the firm’s second partner appointment in three months – Andrew Skuse joined the residential property team in August.
Sheila specialises in strategic land and development work. Sheila has moved to Ashtons from her role as in-house counsel for a land promoter and developer in the east of England. Her background and experience gives her considerable insight into the full spectrum of work involved in both commercial and residential development schemes, from initial scoping and viability prior to land acquisition through to planning, delivery and disposal. She also has experience of large-scale infrastructure projects, predominantly in the health and education sectors, which together with her knowledge of development work will prove invaluable to Ashtons’ existing client base.
Sheila says: “I am really pleased to have joined Ashtons Legal’s thriving commercial property team in Cambridge. The team has a great reputation, good feedback from legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners and I am looking forward to working with such a dynamic and progressive team of lawyers”.
Sheila adds: “My previous experience has given me the opportunity to look at legal implications from a different perspective and I am excited to be able to share my insights into development work and the local and regional property markets with a broad range of clients”.
Edward O’Rourke, CEO at Ashtons says: “Sheila’s appointment enables us to strengthen further our property presence in the Cambridgeshire area. I am delighted that in these tough times we are stable and strong and able to attract new talent to the firm”.