Gowling WLG is strengthening its nationally-renowned housing development and regeneration (HDR) practice by hiring a best-in-class team based in Leeds.

Seven lawyers are joining from Womble Bond Dickinson to build on the firm's existing strengths and enable Gowling WLG's HDR practice to better serve its national and northern-based residential development, social provider and regeneration clients.

Julia Dacre Field will be joining the firm as Partner. She has more than 20 years of experience in the sector and heads up Womble Bond Dickinson's Leeds-based housebuilder team.

Kathryn Wood and James Lawson will join as Legal Directors, and Mark Owen has been appointed as Of Counsel. They will be joined by Patrick Jackson and Emma Speight as Principal Associates and Liam Turner as Senior Associate.

Chris Hunt, Head of Real Estate at Gowling WLG, said: "We are thrilled to be welcoming Julia, Kathryn, Mark, James and their superb team to the firm as we continue to invest in our market-leading housing development and regeneration practice.

"They all have fantastic credentials, experience and reputations in the sector and joining forces will benefit both our clients and our growth ambitions. The opportunity to work with Julia and her team for top-tier HDR clients in Leeds and the north of the UK, many of which Gowling WLG has also acted for over many years, is a fantastic opportunity."

Julia will lead the team, which will be based in Leeds, and will work closely with National Head of HDR Ashley Mitchell and former Head of Real Estate practice, senior HDR Partner Richard Bate.

This latest move builds on the firm's expanded offering in the Living sector led by HDR Partners Daniel Leather and Dominic Morris, with Dominic having joined the firm in 2020 with a leading reputation in senior living investment and development.