Leading commercial property lawyer joins Hutchinson Thomas

Fast growing Neath and SA1 based law firm, Hutchinson Thomas, recently secured a high profile hire as Rob Howells joined the firm as a commercial property lawyer.

Rob joined from JCP Solicitors where he was Head of the Property Department for West Wales. Previous to this, Rob spent ten years working at Swansea based law firm, Douglas Jones Mercer.

Alongside Rob’s experience as a commercial property lawyer, he also has a background in the lesser known but growing area of pension plans, SIPPs and SASS, which allow more flexibility than standard pension schemes.

Huw Jones, Partner at Hutchinson Thomas commented:

“It’s fantastic to have Rob onboard. He has a great reputation and will no doubt be an invaluable addition to the team. Rob also comes at an ideal time – with Swansea on the cusp of some exciting growth due to the City Deal, there are likely to be a number of commercial properties such as shops and chain restaurants coming to the area.

Rob also brings a wide range of contacts with him, particularly those from his time based in West Wales. And having someone with extensive experience in SIPPs and SASS also means our firm is ideally placed to deal with the full range of pension options available.”

Rob commented:

“It’s an exciting time to join Hutchinson Thomas, just as it’s expanding. There’ll be a lot of interesting work coming up. And it’s a forward-thinking firm – I’ve been able to join on a four-day week which is rare for law firms, but ideal for me as the extra time gives me scope to pursue my interest in charity work.”

Certainly not one to sit still for long, Rob is also an avid fitness fan and part owns a Crossfit Gym in Llansamlet, Swansea, often taking classes before his working day begins.

Huw added:

“Rob undoubtedly has a lot of energy which is just what we need as Hutchinson Thomas continues to expand.”