Two new additions to our residential property team

We have recruited two local solicitors to our expanding legal team.

Hilary Banister and Jamie Cook have joined our Law Society-accredited residential property department, increasing the team to 7 full-time lawyers.

Hilary is a very experienced residential property solicitor having worked in this area of law for more than 15 years. She handles a wide variety of property matters for a range of clients and has a particular specialism in leasehold transactions. She accepted the position after locuming with us for several months. Prior to joining the firm, she spent 5 years at a local law firm.

Jamie has specialised in residential conveyancing since 2004, and has joined us from another local law firm. He embarked on a legal career in 2003, having previously studied and worked in information technology. He first trained as a legal executive before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Both solicitors will handle the full range of residential property transactions for a wide variety of clients including people moving home, those buying retirement properties and individuals with buy-to-let portfolios.

Bridget Redmond, partner and head of the residential property department at Willans, said:

“The time felt right to expand the department now that we are confident that levels of activity have returned to the local market. Instruction levels are two to three times higher than they were when the market slumped in 2007/2008. This is partly due to a very welcome increase in activity, but also due to an increase in our market share because our lawyers are doing a great job.

“We want to continue to deliver the excellent personal service that our clients like and are delighted to have welcomed Jamie and Hilary, both of whom are excellent local lawyers who know the market and agents well.”