Gowling WLG is pleased to announce the arrival of two new real estate partners, its new head of senior living Dominic Morris and property litigation specialist Paul Barker. Prior to joining Gowling WLG Dominic was a partner at Eversheds Sutherland, where he led the firm’s senior living team. Paul returns to Gowling WLG, where he previously worked for 12 years, after time as a partner at Higgs & Sons.
Dominic joins the firm with nearly 20 years’ experience in advising public and private sector clients on major development and regeneration projects. He takes up a key role in continuing the growth of the firm’s housing development and regeneration (HDR) team. Whilst Dominic’s principal area of focus is the senior living sector, he also brings extensive experience in complex housing delivery and transport related development.
Paul has almost two decades of commercial property dispute resolution experience. He has a particular expertise in development related disputes and retail property matters, and has worked on several high profile anti-trespass and protestor matters, adding strength to the firm’s highly rated property litigation team. He is also Chair of the Regions for the Property Litigation Association, a position he has held for more than two years.
Richard Bate, partner and head of real estate at Gowling WLG, said: “There is an excellent synergy between Dominic’s career and the HDR team, and we’re delighted to have brought on board a leading lawyer in the important and growing senior living sector. It’s fantastic to have Paul back at the firm, and the return of his technical excellence further strengthens our impressive property dispute resolution capabilities. We look forward to working with them both.”
On joining the firm, Dominic said: “The demand for specialist retirement housing and care is only going to grow as our ageing population rapidly expands. Alongside this, addressing the housing crisis remains a key economic priority for the nation. Having worked opposite Gowling WLG on many occasions, I am now very excited to be a part of an excellent real estate practice and healthcare team focused on bringing its genuine expertise to support the growth of the senior living sector and housing delivery.”
Paul added: “I am thrilled to return to Gowling WLG and join some familiar faces and fantastic new talent. It’s an uncertain time for real estate businesses across the UK, with COVID-19 creating new and unexpected challenges for leadership teams to work through. We have a professional, experienced litigation team and I’m pleased to again be a part of it as we help clients navigate and resolve their property disputes.”
