Leslie Wolfson welcomes new partner and associate

Glasgow-based commercial law firm Leslie Wolfson has announced the promotion of a partner within the firm, along with a new lateral associate hire, as part of its ongoing expansion programme.

Andrew McCowan has been associated with Leslie Wolfson since the start of his traineeship in 1989. He recently returned to the firm following a period of pursuing other projects overseas, including a number of years spent helping businesses and professionals as a coaching and language consultant, and is now assumed as a partner in the firm. He has a strong commercial property focus.

Donna Strong joins as an associate from Pinsent Masons, as the firm looks towards progression following the retirement of senior partner, Stephen Silver, last month after 45 years with the firm.

Ms Strong has worked for 12 years in the commercial property industry and brings a wealth of legal experience in all aspects of commercial real estate with particular emphasis on investment work, commercial leasing and portfolio management. She has acted for institutional investors, pension funds, retailers, developers and funders as well as owner occupiers in relation to the acquisition, financing, letting and sale of development sites, offices, industrial and retail properties.

2015 has been an extremely busy and successful year for Leslie Wolfson, acting on large deals including the sale of the Clyde Shopping Centre in Clydebank for £70 million; advising Tapi Carpets on the rollout of their Scottish expansion programme; the acquisition, under a management agreement, of the Quartermile Car Park in Edinburgh for retained clients, Q-Park; as well as ongoing property work for established clients such as Town Centre Securities plc, Handelsbanken, Game, The Carphone Warehouse and Beaverbrooks.

New senior partner Howard Beach said: “In what can be still considered a challenging marketplace in Scotland, we have had several significant new client wins over the past 12 months, and have been involved in a number of high value transactions, all of which allows us to look with confidence to the future.

“I am delighted that Andrew returned to us after his travels. Nothing better illustrates the fruits of our long-term policy of nurturing home-grown talent and I am very pleased to assume him, once again, as a partner in the firm.

“As we start the New Year, which promises to be very active, both Andrew and Donna will be significant assets to our clients and will further strengthen the firm’s services in our core area of commercial real estate work.”