Private equity backed ABS hires town planning team

Knights Solicitors LLP, a Staffordshire law firm with investment from former Dragon's Den investor James Caan, has recruited a team of town planners to provide specialist planning advice alongside legal services.

The team of six planners, three of which are chartered, were recruited from Staffordshire-based specialist planning and development practice, John Rose Associates and are the first non-lawyer professional hires for Knights. Services provided by the multi-disciplinary team will include submitting planning applications and appeals, undertaking development appraisals and masterplans, making strategic representations to local development frameworks and addressing enforcement issues.  The new team aims to advise a wide range of bodies on planning matters including public bodies and institutions, as well as private clients and companies.

Carl Copestake, head of the new Planning team, added: “There is often a disconnect between the planning process and the legal process underpinning it as these services are typically provided by one team of lawyers and another team planners operating apart from each.   This can make the planning process lengthier and more expensive than is should be. We plan to bridge this gap by having one team of highly experienced lawyers and town planners operating under one roof, delivering a more streamlined and cost effective service to our clients in the process.”

Knights is the first UK commercial law firm to raise private capital through an investment by Hamilton Bradshaw, James Caan’s private equity firm.   It was granted its ABS license by the SRA on 1st January 2013.