MAIDENHEAD: New Partner further strengthens Maidenhead Residential Property Team

As local housing market shows signs of activity

25th April 2024, Maidenhead: Law firm, Gardner Leader appoints local solicitor Lauren Blackman as Partner to further strengthen its Residential Property team in Maidenhead.

Lauren’s appointment follows Vicky Schollar’s, who joined the Newbury office earlier this year as Head of Employment, as Gardner Leader continues to cement its position as one of the leading law firms in the south of England.

Based in the firm’s Maidenhead office on Frascati Way, Lauren qualified as a solicitor in 2016 and brings a wealth of experience to the team, specialising in all areas of property law including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, new build purchases, transfers of equity, Right to Buy, shared ownership, and non-statutory lease extensions.

Before joining Gardner Leader, Lauren held roles at Kite Griffin Solicitors in Bracknell where she worked for over 10 years. Over that time Lauren established a reputation for her attention to detail, proactive and transparent approach, and quick communication. Lauren also joins husband, Tim Blackman, a Senior Associate in Gardner Leader’s Real Estate team since 2016 and was recently named as a Rising Star in the 2024 Legal 500 rankings.

Lauren Blackman said: “I’m delighted to have joined the Gardner Leader team at an exciting time. Having spent a decade at my last practice, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience in Residential Property to the team, and providing our clients, new and old, with the best legal advice and support.”

“The first quarter of 2024 has seen the strongest boost in the housing market since the mini-budget in September 2022.” Lauren added: “The stabilisation of mortgage interest rates has given confidence and allowed hesitant first-time buyers to pull the trigger and get on the ladder.”

Gardner Leader has been at the heart of the Thames Valley community for over 125 years, with offices in Maidenhead, Newbury, and Thatcham. Now with over 200 members of staff, the firm has gone on to triple in size over the last 10 years, expanding across the South of England, with offices in London, Windsor, Swindon and most recently Oxford. Its highly experienced team of legal professionals work across nine specialist teams each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and to individuals.

Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner at Gardner Leader, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lauren to Gardner Leader. As one of the region’s leading law firms our team has grown three-fold over the last decade, with Lauren the latest addition to our thriving Residential Property team.

“Our aim is to deliver the best legal advice, support, and peace of mind to all our clients. Lauren joins a Residential Property team that is leading the way in terms of legal know-how, industry experience, and client satisfaction.”

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Editors notes

With offices in Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Swindon, Oxford and London, Gardner Leader is a leading law firm in the Thames Valley and South East, offering a wide range of legal services for businesses and individuals.

In the Legal 500 prestigious guide for 2022 the firm was described as ‘shining above all with their approachable and friendly way of doing things’, with Partner Niamh Minihane named as a “Next Generation Partner”, and Katie Dyson, Partner, singled out as a “Rising Star.”

In 2018 the firm won ‘Best in Business’ and ‘Best in Customer Service’ awards in the Newbury Weekly News award, and in 2016 it also won the LawNet award for Law Firm of the Year, and the Halsbury Legal Award in Business Development. Other awards include the LawNet Excellence in Employee Engagement award (2015), Highly Commended in the Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year category in the 2015 National Conveyancing Awards and Commended.

The firm was first founded in 1895. It has over 160 staff. Its team of highly experienced and friendly solicitors are all specialist, specifically dedicated to their areas of expertise. Each team is driven by what matters to the client and committed to delivering results.