Serving the Teesside Business Community | 41
Guidance – adviser
Gary Lumby with Punch
Robson managing
partner Elaine McLaine-
Wood after joining the
law firm in 2018.
Expert
guidance
W
Punch Robson works closely with local
developers, including Dodds Brown, and
has been involved in the acquisition of
Centre North East in Middlesbrough,
while also negotiating leases with tenants
including Lane 7, Turtle Bay and Wed2Be.
They’re also on the panel of a number of
lenders, including Santander, which enables
the firm to act for both lenders and clients,
resulting in quicker deals.
McLaine-Wood adds: “We’ve also
advised on buying and selling businesses
and providing bespoke contracts for
companies.
“We’ve acted for a number of developers
in the region who have had to negotiate
with tenants such as Costa Coffee,
Starbucks, Subway and the Co-op.
“We are what you might describe as a
high street practice offering niche services,
because of the five different areas we cover.
“We also work with a number of local
referrers to offer added value. For example,
we can pull in expert support from
accountants and IFAs, if our clients need
financial advice, as we believe ultimately it’s
about the client getting the best possible
service all round.”
While corporate law is a big part of Punch
Robson’s services, all five of the firm’s
departments are equally important, with
all of them contributing around 20% to its
annual turnover.
Personal services include residential
property, divorce and family law, wills and
probate and child care, with senior partner
John Wilkin heading up litigation, partner
Graeme Downs leading on family and
mental health, Katherine Eaton heading
residential conveyancing and associate Pat
Mellish heading up the wills, probate and
trust team.
“All partners, except myself, were
trainees with Punch Robson, and that’s
something we’re incredibly proud of,” says
McLaine-Wood.
“As a long-standing
member of the community
we are committed to
delivering a great service
to local people and
businesses, and as part of
this commitment we work
with a set of principles.”
“Our aim is to be able to advise and
represent our clients across all of their
legal needs. Our solicitors are able to
specialise in their preferred area of law,
allowing them to become true experts.
“This specialist expertise sometimes
means that we receive client referrals
from other local solicitors who don’t have
the depth ofknowledge and experience.”
Mental health and legal aid are two
other areas Punch Robson are proud to
lead on.
“As a firm we’re heavily involved with
the Law Society’s Mental Health Panel,”
adds McLaine-Wood.
“Graeme Downs, who leads family
mental health, has been on the panel a
long time and we have others who are
also on it.
“There are a lot of firms that have
stopped doing legal aid over the years.
We think it’s important to keep doing that
work and keep on representing the people
of Teesside who need assistance.
“As a long-standing member of
the community we are committed to
delivering a great service to local people
and businesses, and as part of this
commitment we work with a set of
principles.”
ell-known business adviser
Gary Lumby was appointed to
assist Punch Robson with its
growth strategy in 2018.
Lumby joined Ingleby Barwick-based
Punch Robson and is working alongside
its partners to help achieve the
company’s development plans.
The traditional mixed-practice high
street law firm will benefit from
Lumby’s extensive knowledge gained
from his many years’ experience from
working with numerous leading Tees
businesses including Biochemica,
Cornerstone Business Solutions,
Techconsult, FRP Advisory, Active
Chartered Financial Planners and Erimus
Insurance.
Lumby was regional head of SME
Banking for the North East and Cumbria
for Barclays Bank before becoming both
the UK head of business banking and
UK head of retail banking for Yorkshire
Bank during which time he became
a fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Bankers (Scotland).
The firm’s managing partner Elaine
McLaine-Wood, who is head of Punch
Robson’s corporate and commercial
property department, said: “Gary’s
appointment was a critical one for us
moving forward.
“The next stage of transition for our
firm was growth and Gary is already
helping us to achieve our goals.”
Lumby, who is recognised for his
knowledge across many industry
sectors, aims to use his expertise
in sales, marketing and business
development to assist the driven firm
in increasing its turnover and expanding
its team.
He will also support the firm by
working with Punch Robson’s four
partners and heads of departments,
setting key performance indicators and
mentoring leading members of the
team.
He added: “The business has a great
foundation and there’s lots of scope for
growth.
“We’re going to be working on a
three-year strategy and I can’t wait to
see where we will take Punch Robson.”