Geraldine P

My Law Firm

Profile:

I started my legal career as a trainee at a magic circle law firm in 2003 after studying English literature at university and then the PgDL and LPC. I qualified as a solicitor into the real estate practice of that firm in 2005 and remained, moving from from associate to senior associate, until 2013 when I moved to a regional solicitor’s firm. I moved back to the magic circle in 2014 to a more flexible working role, albeit at senior level. I remained there until 2019 when I moved to an accountancy firm’s legal practice to head a small team of real estate lawyers. I then joined Covington & Burling LLP in 2020 as a special counsel heading the real estate practice in London.

My practice covers landlord and tenant matters, real estate joint ventures, asset management arrangements, acquisitions and disposals as well as advising on property in lending and wider corporate and M&A transactions.  Property law is an interesting mix of strong commercial drivers overlaid with distinct technical legal principles. Real Estate traditionally has a reputation for being male dominated, and there have been times over the years when that has meant it has been challenging for me to be heard. It has also been positive to see the evolution away from that in more recent years as more women are joining and taking senior positions within businesses in the sector.

I am state school educated and the first of my family’s generation on my father’s side to attend university. My parents are both from a working class background, with my mother growing up in council housing. I strongly believe that social background should never prevent career aspirations, and that the only bar to success should be capability and aptitude.

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