National law firm Devonshires has announced the opening of a Cardiff office and the appointment of leading real estate and social housing lawyer Liz Gibbons to head its Welsh practice. The move marks the launch of the firm's fifth office – a significant milestone in its continued national expansion – joining established offices in Birmingham, Colchester, Leeds and London.
Serving clients across Wales, the new office builds on Devonshires' longstanding track record in the country, which has seen the firm work on behalf of many of the country's leading housing associations. The move reflects the firm's deep commitment to the Welsh market as demand grows for specialist legal advice across the housing, real estate, development and infrastructure sectors.
Devonshires has established one of Wales' leading social housing practices, having advised on every major merger involving the country's Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) over the past five years. The firm also acted for landlord parties in Beacon Cymru Group Limited & Ors v Mitchell & Ors, the landmark High Court test case on the practical and legal implications of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, widely regarded as one of the most significant housing law cases in Wales in recent years.
The firm also has significant experience advising on complex building safety matters, major real estate transactions, regeneration and development projects, and the full spectrum of property and asset management issues. Clients across Wales will therefore have access to Devonshires' full-service offering, combining deep sector expertise with specialist advice across real estate, construction, property litigation, corporate, employment, governance and regulatory matters.
Liz joins from Acuity Law, where she was a Senior Partner in the firm's Real Estate and Social Housing team and led its social housing practice. Liz has worked across both commercial and residential property and has significant experience advising RSLs, developers and investors on everything from acquisitions and disposals through to major developments and complex transactions. She has a particular specialism in leasehold law, having previously been appointed Solicitor for Wales to the Leasehold Advisory Service, and is a co-founder of Ladies Unite in Social Housing Cymru (LUSH Cymru).
Liz's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Wales and its housing and development market. Social landlords, developers and investors are navigating a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape, including the implementation of Welsh building safety reforms; increasing sustainability and decarbonisation requirements; and ambitious plans to accelerate housing delivery through initiatives such as Unnos, the proposed national development body.
At the same time, the sector faces significant pressures around viability, construction costs, planning constraints, land availability and infrastructure delivery. As a result, demand is growing for advisers able to combine deep sector expertise with the breadth of insight required across the full development and investment lifecycle. Through its established practice and multidisciplinary real estate, construction, litigation and corporate teams, Devonshires is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate complexity, manage risk and successfully deliver.
Commenting on the launch and her appointment Liz Gibbons, head of Devonshires' Wales office, said:
“This move was an obvious one for me. First and foremost, I am joining a firm that knows and loves the social and affordable housing sector as much as I do. Secondly, I am excited to lead a new team that can provide access to the full suite of services needed to succeed in matters from property litigation, real estate and construction, through to employment and corporate. It really feels like a natural pairing.
“The firm is the preeminent national social and affordable housing specialist and already has an impressive track record working for clients across Wales, be it on major mergers or sector-defining test cases. This new office is a sign of our commitment to clients and prospects in Wales, which is an important market and one we want to help shape the growth of in the years ahead. Being physically located and embedded in the business community is essential to achieving this.
“It's an exciting time to be working in Wales. With significant government funding available, there are new investment opportunities across the length and breadth of the country. With further legislative and regulatory change on the horizon, affordable and social housing providers will need access to the very best full-service legal advice to realise these growth ambitions. Devonshires is well placed to support with our deep understanding of both RSLs and the broader property market, and I look forward to bringing my experience to bear.”
Mark London, Senior Partner at Devonshires, added:
“The opening of our Cardiff office is a significant milestone for Devonshires and reflects both the strength of our existing Welsh practice and our long-term commitment to the market.
“Wales is entering a period of significant opportunity, with ambitious plans for housing delivery, regeneration and infrastructure investment creating momentum across the built environment. Initiatives such as Unnos have the potential to unlock new opportunities for collaboration and accelerate delivery, but organisations will need to navigate an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and commercial landscape to realise that ambition. Our role is to help clients do exactly that.
“Devonshires has a strong track record of supporting clients on many of the most significant matters affecting the Welsh housing and property sectors. With Liz leading our Cardiff office, we are exceptionally well placed to support organisations across housing, real estate, development and regeneration as they seize those opportunities.
“We are delighted to welcome Liz to the firm. Her arrival marks an important step in our growth strategy and creates an outstanding platform for the next phase of our expansion in Wales. We look forward to becoming an ever-more active part of the Welsh business community, deepening our relationships across the market and building lasting connections with clients, businesses and organisations throughout Wales.”
Liz, who is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500, will work closely with Stephanie Pugh, who also joins from Acuity Law, with plans to grow the office's headcount whilst drawing on the significant Welsh experience across Devonshires. Liz is also an active participant in Community Housing Cymru and the Chartered Institute of Housing events and previously sat on the Board of TPAS Cymru.
The firm has taken office in the Grade II listed Temple Court, located on Cathedral Road in the heart of Cardiff.
