Gateley Legal’s Leeds office boosts its residential and regulatory teams.
Gateley Legal has strengthened its Leeds office with the addition of two new legal professionals, senior associate Libby Clarkson and solicitor Kate Develly. The appointments bolster the firm’s residential development and regulatory and business defence teams, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of legal services in Yorkshire.
Libby Clarkson brings over a decade of experience advising developers, housebuilders, and joint venture companies on land acquisitions and disposals for development. She joins Gateley Legal’s nationally recognised residential development team, which represents a broad portfolio of clients, including major housebuilders, institutional landowners, and public-private joint ventures. The team handles an impressive 15,000 plot sales per year and is one of the few legal groups in the UK with a dedicated housebuilder team.
Kate Develly, a criminal law specialist and accredited police station representative, qualified in 2024 and joins the firm’s regulatory and business defence team. She has extensive experience in criminal defence, particularly in cases related to health and safety, environmental law, trading standards, financial crime, and fraud. The Leeds-based team provides crisis management support and defends corporate clients facing investigations by bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, and Serious Fraud Office.
The arrival of Clarkson and Develly is yet another big step in a period of significant growth for Gateley Legal’s Leeds office, which has made 15 legal appointments in the past six months. Since 2022, the firm’s Leeds presence has expanded by 22%, with a client roster that includes Carlsberg, Leeds Playhouse, Lidl, Mamas & Papas, Marshalls, Sue Ryder, and 18 of the UK’s 20 largest housebuilders, as well as leading banks and accountancy firms.
Roger McCourt, partner and head of the Leeds office, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Libby and Kate to our teams in Leeds. Over the past six months, we have strategically invested in various roles to support our long-term growth strategy. This expansion reflects the increasing demand for our legal services and our commitment to providing exceptional expertise to our clients.”
Pictured (L-R): Libby Clarkson, Kate Develly and Roger McCourt
Image provided by Gateley Legal
Josie Geistfeld
Josie Geistfeld is Editor of Yorkshire Legal News. She welcomes comments and questions.