Law firm appoints new city office head

Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has appointed education and real estate partner Clive Read as it’s head of Birmingham.

Winner of the Birmingham Law Society’s Partner of the Year’ Award 2021, Clive Read joins the firm this month and has 30 years’ experience in advising universities and colleges on the management and development of campuses.

Advising across all aspects of real estate, he has worked on major redevelopment projects, land sales and acquisitions, large-scale student lease agreements and the management of occupiers, for the likes of University of Arts London and University of Derby.

Clive joins the firm from VWV, where he was head of the Birmingham office for five years. During this time he took the team from single figures to more than 30 people and grew the office turnover to more than £3m.

Clive said: “I’m delighted to be heading up the Birmingham team, as the culture and ambition of the firm fits so well with my own values. It’s also great to be part of a firm that is already so well-known for property and education. I look forward to growing the teams and collaborating with experts in different fields, to better service our clients.

“Education has had a tough year and the pandemic will likely result in major changes for the sector moving forward. It’s our job as legal professionals to help protect the best interests of institutions, their staff and students.”

Shakespeare Martineau is recognised for its expertise in real estate, planning and the higher and further education sectors. The firm acts for more than 100 higher education institutions and further education colleges, ranging from large research intensive universities such as Cambridge and Nottingham, metropolitan universities and colleges such as UCLAN and Dudley College and specialist institutions such as the Royal College of Art and the University College of Osteopathy.

Joanna Deffley, regional head for West Midlands, said: “Clive is such a well-recognised name in Birmingham and the education sector and we’re so pleased that he is joining our team and heading up our largest regional office. He brings exceptional experience and shares our market-focused, growth ambitions.”

Clive said: “I actually started my career in 1990 with Martineau Johnson and left just before it turned into Shakespeare Martineau, following a merger. I’m really pleased to come back and see some familiar faces, as well as meet lots of new people.

"I have been very impressed with the drive, enthusiasm, focus and direction for where the firm is going. It feels like a very different business and is a breath of fresh air, in all senses. In many ways it doesn’t feel like a traditional law firm – and that’s a compliment.”

Pictured: Clive Read