Banking and finance partner Jake arrives at Shakespeare Martineau’s new Southampton hub

Law firm Shakespeare Martineau is continuing its growth in Southampton with the appointment of banking and finance partner Jake Holmes, who joins after more than a decade at Blake Morgan.

The firm secured office space at Southampton Science Park in April, furthering its expansion into the Central South market.

Along with that came the appointments of corporate partner and office lead James Hawkeswood, commercial litigator Paula Swain, and debt and asset recovery team supervisor Ray Welsby.

James said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jake to our expanding team as we increase our investment in the Southampton and broader Central South market.

“Jake brings a wealth of regional expertise and a robust network of connections, making him a valuable addition to our firm as we strive to provide unparalleled service and foster growth in the region.”

Jake, who’ll service a national client base, added: “Having worked in the Solent region for the majority of my career, I know what fantastic businesses there are in this area and what a terrific opportunity there is to work alongside these businesses as their strategic legal advisors as they grow and unlock their potential.

“I’ve worked opposite Shakespeare Martineau on a number of transactions over the years, and always been impressed with the pragmatic, solutions-orientated approach they’ve taken.

“No posturing or grandstanding in front of clients – just people getting on with the task at hand to deliver deals in a commercial manner.”

Jake is ranked in both Chambers and the Legal 500 and specialises in acquisition, real estate, and development finance, particularly within the mid-market and large corporate space.

He regularly advises banks, corporate and individual investors, and other institutional lenders and borrowers across a variety of sectors, including leisure, healthcare and education.

Shakespeare Martineau also has offices across the South West, London, East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland.

• shma.co.uk

To get the best of Hampshire Biz News straight to your inbox every week, sign up for our newsletter!