Member Article

Hat trick of heavyweight new appointments for leading Manchester law firm JMW

Leading full-service law firm JMW continues its programme of growth with a hat trick of heavyweight hires designed to both underpin and expand the firm’s comprehensive legal offering.

John Burns joins as partner and Head of Brands in the Commercial team: he brings with him significant experience in non-contentious Intellectual Property matters and is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading legal experts in the brand licensing industry. He also works extensively in the sports world, including advising on high value sponsorship, and naming rights agreements, as well as acting for a wide range of franchisors and franchisees in relation to non-contentious matters.

David Easdown, partner in the Corporate team, has worked with many of the region’s best-known businesses. He has particular focus on high growth, often technology-focused businesses and the funders of them. His client base is wide, and includes development capital funders, family offices, owner-managed businesses and David has expertise in advising management teams receiving private equity investment ahead of executing buy-and-build strategies.

Neil Armstrong comes to the firm as partner and Head of Construction. With a background in Mechanical Engineering he brings unparalleled insight and expertise to JMW’s construction practice, his advisory scope spanning transactional and procurement arrangements, and engineering and development projects within the construction industry.

John said: “JMW is a truly entrepreneurial firm and I am pleased to be joining such a successful Commercial team. I’m looking forward to working with the team and bringing new clients into the business.”

David added: “I’m delighted to be part of a law firm with such a strong reputation for excellence and a genuine commitment to its chosen markets. In a sector as traditional and conservative as law, JMW’s progressive, entrepreneurial approach and commitment to investment in both its people and its clients made the decision to move here an easy one.”

Neil said: This is a unique and exciting opportunity to further develop the JMW Construction offering. There are many challenges facing the sector, but also numerous opportunities; the team’s industry expertise and sound understanding of the sector means we deliver the highest level of legal advice to clients old and new.”

Marc Yaffe, managing partner, said of the three new hires: “I am extremely pleased to welcome John, David and Neil. They bring with them the rare combination of expertise and human perspective that is the key to the success of JMW. I know they will make a significant contribution to our programme of strategic growth as well as further developing our reputation as one the UK’s leading full-service law firms.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gill Alexander .