Gowling WLG (UK) LLP has announced five promotions to partner for 2017.
The new partners are Sarah Galvin, Elizabeth Gane, Samantha Holland, Felicity Lindsay and Mark Stephenson. All are based in the UK and will join the partnership on 1st May.
David Fennell, chief executive, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP, said: "Our new partners advise clients in some of our most successful practices and sectors. They have all demonstrated energy, innovation and commitment in helping these clients achieve their business objectives over a number of years. I am delighted to welcome them to the partnership."
Sarah Galvin and Felicity Lindsay are part of the 300-strong real estate practice.
Sarah has a particular focus on the development of industrial space, acting for some of the sector's largest players as they respond to increasing occupier demand for logistics space across the UK. She also acts for investor clients as they acquire and dispose of assets such as shopping centres and offices.
Felicity specialises in commercial development and investment. She acts for clients including Knight Frank Investment Management, Royal London, HM Revenue & Customs, Prime Place and Red Bull Racing. She has recently acted for Knight Frank IM, assisting it to acquire 15 assets into its new Long Income Fund; Royal London on a mixed use residential led scheme in north London and a development site in central London; and HMRC on its nationwide occupational arrangements.
Samantha Holland is part of the commercial litigation team and has advised on some of the firm's largest and most high profile disputes including Hamilton v Di Resta and Safeway Stores plc v Twigger. She is currently part of the core team advising on the Holyoake v Candy case which is at trial in the High Court in London until the beginning of April. Samantha has a particular specialism in insurance advising on all aspects of policy coverage and is a market-leader in transactional insurance on which she has advised many of the firm's key clients.
Mark Stephenson specialises in non-contentious construction law acting predominantly for real estate developers and investors (both listed and privately owned). Key clients include St Modwen Properties plc and I.M Properties plc. Recent work has included advising a Luxembourg-based developer on the construction of a £125m internet fulfilment centre for a leading internet retailer; advising a developer on the procurement and construction of a four storey, 2.2m sq ft distribution centre (the largest in the UK); and advising I.M Properties on the procurement and construction of the new Birmingham Wholesale Market.
Liz Gane becomes a partner in the pensions team and has a wealth of experience advising both trustee and employer side clients on a range of pensions issues. Highlights have included advising the trustees of a £1bn+ pension scheme on an innovative funding solution; advising an EU headquartered company on the streamlining of its pension arrangements; and re-writing the governing documents for a £750m pension scheme to incorporate nine new benefit sections.