Best brains in ...

The retail and leisure real estate worlds and, in particular, occupational leases.

Highlight of your career so far?

Being made a partner at Wragge & Co. It is a real privilege to be a part of this partnership - we have a working culture and environment which many of our competitors are rightly envious.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Leading a team of six lawyers in the successful tax-driven intra-group restructuring of a major US retailer's real estate portfolio involving over 500 properties. The team needed to work round the clock to get the initial due diligence done and then work assiduously over a prolonged period to effect the necessary transfers. The transaction was key to the world-wide business, so all eyes were on us!

What about outside the UK?

I am lucky enough to work with some of the world's biggest brand names on their real estate in England and Wales. Every client has its own issues connected with its brand. An ability to understand their issues is key to what I do.

How can you tell when you provide great client service?

You need to ask yourself this question every day: 'If another firm of lawyers picked up the phone to my client this morning asking whether they could meet for a chat, how long would it take before my client said "No, thanks, we're delighted with the service we get from Wragge & Co?"'. If the answer is not 'immediately', then you need to change something. The answer should always be 'immediately'.

How do you get under the skin of a client's business?

There are many different ways. Talking to your client about its business - asking questions and showing a genuine interest - is fundamental. If you want to get down to brass tacks though, try work experience in one of your food retail client's restaurants! There's nothing like a busy lunchtime to see the business at the sharp end.

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

I run! More specifically, I have done a number of 10-kilometre runs for Cancer Research. It never ceases to amaze me how generous people are when there's a good cause involved.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

A senior in-house counsel of a major international retailer said: 'We really like working with Chris. He understands what makes us tick and gets the job done'.