By: 9 December 2021
Switalskis aims for commercial property expansion with new hire

Switalskis has appointed property lawyer Claire Murphy as a director, with a brief to help develop the firm’s commercial property department.

An experienced commercial property solicitor, Murphy has worked in the sector since 1994. She trained at international law firm Clifford Chance in London and relocated to Yorkshire in 1996, where she worked at several large Leeds law firms, including Addleshaw Goddard, Gordons, and Lupton Fawcett.

In 2013, she founded Claire Murphy Legal, a specialist commercial property law firm based in Ilkley. Murphy has built a strong and long-standing client base of property developers, investors, business owners and occupiers, and counts national businesses such as Lidl Great Britain Limited among her clients.

At Switalskis, Murphy will work with the established senior team, Abigail Mitchell and Andrew Lawson, to expand and develop the firm’s commercial property department.

The Switalskis team acts for regional and national clients in the construction, retail, office, industrial and leisure sectors, including restaurant chain Nando’s.

Group managing director John Durkan said: “Claire’s arrival will strengthen the firm’s commercial property offering and pave the way for growth in this specialist area of law.”

“Within our strategic plans for the business we have identified a number of areas where we see scope to grow. Commercial property is one such area, and I have no doubt that adding Claire’s expertise, ambition and drive to the firm will add depth to our current offering and help us achieve the growth we are looking for.”

Murphy said the move to Switalskis will enable her to better support her clients with the backing of a larger group: “This is a very exciting opportunity for me to work with a team of like-minded people who share my values and approach to client service.”

“There is a lot of energy across the group and a keenness to grow—both of which are very appealing to me. I also see huge value in having back-office compliance and administrative support from the team at Switalskis, which will free up more of my time to do what I do best and enjoy most: looking after clients and developing the commercial property department within the firm.” 

Pictured: Claire Murphy with Switalskis managing director John Durkan