Lewis Silkin bolsters Real Estate team with new partner hire

Lewis Silkin LLP has today announced the appointment of Sara Hanrahan to head up planning within the firm’s Real Estate practice group.

Sara joins Lewis Silkin having had previous experience of building strong planning teams at Blake Morgan, where she was partner and head of planning from 2012 and prior to this at Winckworth Sherwood where she was head of planning between 2007-2011.Sara has extensive experience advising clients across both the public and private sector on contentious and non-contentious planning matters, including section 106 agreements, planning appeals, judicial reviews, compulsory purchase orders, listed building matters, highways and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) issues.

Sara has a particular focus on entrepreneurial businesses, with clients ranging from private developers (both commercial and residential) and infrastructure and utilities firms, to retail and leisure operators and high net worth investors. She has also been involved in a number of complex regeneration projects - such as the £1 billion creation of New Bermondsey, and advising Wandsworth Council on projects within the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area - as well as having experience in mixed-use and Build to Rent schemes.

At Lewis Silkin, Sara will be working within Lewis Silkin’s Real Estate practice group, which was shortlisted for Real Estate Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2019 and Legal 500 Real Estate Team of the Year 2020.

Giles Crown, Joint Managing Partner at Lewis Silkin, commented:

“Our Real Estate team continues to go from strength to strength, which has been recognised in the market by separate nominations for real estate team of the year in 2019 and 2020. We are committed to building on that success and we have a clear vision for its future and growth. Sara’s addition is a further strategic boost which will enhance our client offering across key sectors. We very much look forward to working with her.”  

Brian Kilcoyne, Head of Real Estate at Lewis Silkin, added:

“Notwithstanding the challenging political and economic environment of late we have been involved in some of London’s leading real estate developments, projects and transactions in recent years. We are committed to growing our real estate practice in our core areas of strategic focus, including development. In that context, planning is always a major issue for clients and we are therefore very pleased to welcome someone of Sara’s recognised expertise and experience. She will be a wonderful addition to the team.”

Sara Hanrahan, Planning Partner at Lewis Silkin, added:

“I am delighted to be joining Lewis Silkin’s real estate team which has a reputation for technical excellence and outstanding client service. I was attracted by the team’s commitment to the sector, its clear strategic vision and a dynamic and friendly entrepreneurial culture, which makes the firm a hugely attractive proposition professionally and personally. I look forward to being part of the team’s continued growth and to helping clients in London and across the UK successfully navigate what is an increasingly complex, and evolving, planning system.”

Sara’s appointment brings the total number of partners at Lewis Silkin to 62.