Best brains in ...

Keeping things simple and focusing on what's really important to the client and makig sure that everyone in the team has the same aproach.

Highlight of your career so far?

Seeing our Retail team recognised as the number one team by Legal 500 and more importantly, by our clients. I established the team when I became partner in 1992. We have since gone from strength-to-strength advising clients including B&Q, Enterprise Inns Plc, Gala Coral, Marks and Spencers, Pret A Manger, ScrewFix and Vodafone.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

The sale of a chain of over 300 electrical retail shops for a number of electricity supply companies. The deal also required the negotiation of over 50 lease-backs and complex easements. The number of parties involved, regulatory framework, volume of documents and tough negotiating position of the buyer made the deal challenging. Long hours were the norm. Like many similar transactions, we completed in the early hours of the morning.

What's your definition of going the extra mile?

On a time-critical transaction, we investigated titles and negotiated a lease of a major retail store for a national retailer within 24 hours. This followed buying a number of properties from a receiver for the same client by turning up at its lawyers' offices in Leeds with my client and staying until the early hours to secure an exchange.

Best example of a creative legal solution?

On a package of sub-lettings I advised the client that it could eliminate its on-going liability and secure additional payments by surrendering the relevant parts and negotiating new leases to be granted by the landlord directly to the proposed sub-tenant. All this was achieved without the sub-tenant's and landlord's solicitors communicating directly to reduce negotiation and scope for conflict.

When have you ever given a client a real competitive edge?

By operating what we call a 'Streetwise' programme for property acquisitions. It's designed to reduce negotiations and reporting and speed up transactions. It also means lower fees and less of the client's management time. It results in deals proceeding quickly and with no fuss. Consequently the client gets more deals put to it because of its reputation of having lawyers that don't mess about and get deals done.

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

I support the treks for SENSE in aid of te deafblind. Eight so far including Everest base camp in November 2008. I've also supervised a number of pro bono property jobs.

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

I have been described as 'highly regarded' in Legal 500 and Chambers UK. A client once called me his 'secret missile'. I secured a high-value development site for him against all the odds by ensuring (through legitimate tactics that I won't disclose) that no one at this single property auction made a realistic bid. My client was then able to buy the property privately outside the auction.