The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire August 2014 Edition | Page 9

LEGAL NEWS

Thrings solicitors handed senior roles
by leading property organisations
Solicitors at leading commercial law firm Thrings – whose offices in Swindon are
on Drakes Meadow- have received recognition for their expertise and knowledge
of the commercial property and construction sectors from two of the UK’s most
prominent industry organisations.
Partner Eric Livingston has become Vice Chairman of
the Great Western branch of the Forum for the Built
Environment (fbe), while fellow construction law specialist
Natalia Sokolov has been elected as Vice Chair of the
Association of Women in Property (WiP) in the South West.
In his new role, Eric will support branch chairman
Peter Harris in delivering a programme of events for the
fbe’s 150 regional members who are drawn from all built
environment-related professions in the South West. This
includes multi-national construction companies, cost
consultants, architects and designers, property developers,
engineers, planners and legal and financial specialists.
Eric, who has been an fbe committee member
since 2008, is acknowledged as a leader in the field of
construction law. Chambers UK, the leading independent
legal directory, describes him as “a highly experienced and
well-respected figure in the region”.
Eric said: “Since its inception in 1946, the fbe has
continued to provide its members with the opportunity
to discuss local issues and local projects, and assess the
economic and political landscape of the area in which they
work with fellow building environment professionals.
“This year’s programme will include the long-established

formal dinners, attended by approximately 400 industry
professionals, regular lunch and evening networking
sessions and even a sponsored cycle ride from Tewkesbury
to Land’s End. The Chairman has said he views our year
in office as a partnership, an ethos for the fbe which I
wholeheartedly support.”
Meanwhile Natalia, who specialises in construction
procurement projects and engineering disputes, becomes
the new Vice Chair of WiP in the South West.
WiP is the national organisation that seeks to enhance
the profile of women in the property and construction
industry sectors. It represents all disciplines within the
property and construction industry, providing a forum
for business opportunities, the exchanging of views,
networking and personal development.
Natalia said: “The Association of Women in Property
attracts members from a wide industry base, from
architects and engineers to planners and surveyors, and
women at all levels, including graduates, senior partners
and directors.
“But women currently account for just 15 per cent of
the property and construction industry workforce in the
UK . As an organisation, we are focused on redressing

this balance by highlighting the numerous benefits and
opportunities that a career in property can offer.”
Natalia becomes the second member of Thrings’
commercial property team at WiP in the South West,
following fellow solicitor Naomi Butler’s election to the
position of joint committee secretary and joint student
awards coordinator earlier this year.
Warren Reid, Head of Commercial Property at Thrings,
added: “Eric an