Willans host ‘Meet the New Partners’ event in Cheltenham

We welcomed more than 100 clients and contacts to a drinks and canapés reception at Hotel du Vin in Parabola Road, Cheltenham.

The event gave the local business community the opportunity to meet our new partners Nigel Whittaker and Matthew Clayton and associate Alasdair Garbutt, as well as catch up with existing members of our commercial departments. Nigel and Matthew are both recognised as leading individuals by independent UK legal directories.

Nigel Whittaker and Alasdair Garbutt, both of whom previously worked at Charles Russell’s Cheltenham office, have joined our commercial property team, bringing expertise in freehold and leasehold property transactions. They act for a wide range of business clients, working with investors on the acquisition and disposal of high value commercial premises as well as for commercial occupiers and landlords including training providers, recruitment companies and public house operators. Nigel, assisted by Alasdair, has overseen the national expansion of retail shops for Sue Ryder, Scope, Shelter, Macmillan Cancer Support and other leading charities.

City-trained lawyer Matthew Clayton, formerly head of department at Rickerbys, joined in March to head up our employment department. Matthew has worked with clients ranging from multi-national companies to owner-managed businesses and brings 16 years’ of HR and employment law expertise.

The evening was well received and kindly supported by Gloucestershire Media and lifestyle magazine Cotswold Style.

Commenting on the event, managing partner Margaret Austen said:

“The arrival of two new partners is a significant event for Willans. We thought it would be a good idea to provide an opportunity for the business community, our clients and contacts, to meet our new lawyers as well as to catch up with the existing team.

“We are delighted to have appointed such high calibre legal professionals to our firm and pleased that the evening was such a success.”