DTM Legal has expanded its commercial property team with two new appointments in response to a significant increase in new instructions from North West clients.

Robert Harris joins the team as a consultant and Sally Pilott has been appointed associate solicitor.

Previously a partner at Weightmans LLP in Manchester, Robert is a vastly experienced commercial property lawyer, having spent more than 35 years specialising in this area of law.

Robert worked for many years in London for some of the biggest law firms in the country getting involved in the electricity privatisation and many other large and complex transactions. His clients include well-recognised individuals and many national organisations.

Sally joins from DWF LLP in Manchester. Previously she was a senior associate with Dorsey & Whitney LLP and prior to that was at S J Berwin in London.

She has considerable experience acting predominantly for clients in the retail and leisure sector and also in the industrial / warehousing sector.

Both Sally and Robert specialise in all aspects of commercial property, including development work, acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant work, investment, property management and property finance related work.

Anna Duffy, head of commercial property at DTM Legal, said:

“We have seen major growth in this area with a total of 66 new property clients in the first three-quarters of 2015. This is no wonder given the investment pouring into the sector. Over £1.13 billion of development is happening in Liverpool City Centre alone, while Chester’s One City Plan continues to build momentum.

“Next year will see more exciting projects unfold as Liverpool Waters and the Atlantic Gateway Project get underway and the city hosts the UK’s second International Festival for Business (IFB).

“Considering the exciting times ahead for the North West property market, the need for a strong development division increased significantly. Robert and Sally are very welcome additions to the growing team and will help build on our established reputation in this sector, allowing us to assist developers and investors in all aspects of the legal work required to undertake these developments”.

DTM Legal serves a corporate client base across the North West, North Wales and beyond. Clients include businesses from the manufacturing, healthcare, property, leisure, retail and education sectors.

DTM Legal works closely with clients to provide a broad spectrum of legal advice on issues including corporate and commercial law, commercial property, construction, employment law, intellectual property, business recovery and disputes.

The company was established seven years ago in Chester and opened its Liverpool office in The Plaza in August 2013.