Leading international law firm Hill Dickinson has strengthened its Manchester office with the appointment of Mark Gaffney as a real estate partner.
With over 23 years of partner-level experience, Gaffney specializes in property development, regeneration, public sector funding, joint ventures, leasing, and portfolio transactions. Notably, he has collaborated with Manchester City Council over the past decade to deliver approximately £1 billion in residential-led regeneration, transforming the Ancoats and New Islington areas of Manchester.
In his new role, Gaffney will continue to advise property developers across the North West and nationally. Joining from Squire Patton Boggs, he brings a wealth of experience working with public and private sector clients on regeneration projects across England. His work has earned him recognition as one of the top real estate lawyers in the North West by The Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK.
This strategic hire underscores Hill Dickinson’s commitment to growing its Manchester office and broader Business Services Group. Over the past year, the firm has made 12 senior lateral hires within Business Services, its largest business division. The firm is also set to expand further with its upcoming move to a new office in Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development in 2025.
Fiona Parry, head of Business Services Group at Hill Dickinson, said: “Mark’s arrival at Hill Dickinson is the latest in a series of over 20 top quality lateral hires we have made firmwide in the past two years, adding capacity and depth to our overall legal services offering. And the market is sitting up and taking note. Mark’s addition to our national Real Estate team, and the clients he has brought with him, make him a valuable addition to our Manchester office.
“With over two decades of experience at partner level, Mark’s arrival aligns with our continued focus on growing our Business Services offering. Hiring the best available talent is an important part of that equation. I look forward to continuing to build a leading legal team across the North West and the wider firm.”
Darren Hamer, head of Manchester real estate at Hill Dickinson, said: “Mark’s appointment has come at a significant time for our real estate team, especially given the government’s strong focus on delivering major regeneration projects over the next few years. Throughout his career, Mark has worked on a variety of projects and is recognised in the industry for his deep sector expertise. He will support us in providing industry-leading legal advice to our clients and we’re all excited that he’s become part of our team.
Mark Gaffney, real estate partner at Hill Dickinson, said: “Hill Dickinson is home to some of the top legal talent in the region so I’m proud to have joined its real estate team in Manchester. With the firm being in such an exciting period of growth, not just here but across the UK and internationally as well, this move gives me the platform to work with Hill Dickinson’s diverse client base and contribute further to expanding our team’s presence in the region.”