Brabners has appointed David Cole as a partner in its real estate group
Leading independent law firm Brabners has capped a busy season of new appointments with the welcoming of strategic land and development specialist David Cole as a partner in its highly regarded real estate group. He will work with Brabners’ real estate development team to support clients and projects across the UK.
David will be primarily based in Brabners’ Leeds office and he joins from Womble Bond Dickinson, where he spent nearly 14 years building a national practice focused on complex land transactions. Recognised by The Legal 500 for his expertise, he advises promoters, developers, landowners and investors on strategic land and development matters, guiding clients through complex transactions from initial site acquisition and assembly through development and on to disposal. His practical understanding of how schemes progress from concept to delivery enables David to provide commercially focused advice that helps clients maximise development value while managing risk.
His appointment follows a succession of senior hires in Leeds over the summer, including real estate partners Susan Samuel and Matt Ramsden, property disputes and litigation partner Jennifer Leah, and insolvency and restructuring partner Helen Bates. Brabners also announced its largest round of partner promotions in July, adding six lawyers to a partnership that now numbers more than 100.
The additions have brought further depth to the Leeds office and strengthened a real estate group that is already among the largest in the North of England, with its 120-strong team advising a diverse range of clients on development, investment and asset management matters across the UK.
The team’s continued investment and growth was also recently recognised at the 2026 Yorkshire Legal Awards, where Brabners won the Commercial Property award. It follows a period of major transactions including Town Centre Securities’ acquisition of a prime London retail property and supporting workspace provider Gilbanks with its continued growth.
David Cole, Real Estate Partner at Brabners, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Brabners. The firm has grown rapidly in recent times, attracting some exceptional talent, and has built an outstanding national development practice. I am really proud to have joined this established and highly regarded group.
“Brabners’ continued investment in Yorkshire, the London office opening earlier this year, and the clear sense of ambition make this a brilliant opportunity. Brabners’ independence, B Corp certification and demonstrable commitment to being a sustainable, inclusive and progressive business made the decision an easy one for me.
“Being part of one of the largest real estate teams in the North, with expertise spanning the full development lifecycle, means our clients can access specialist advice at every stage of a project. I’m looking forward to bringing my strategic land and development experience to the team while helping grow Brabners’ profile in Yorkshire and beyond.”
Nik White, Managing Partner at Brabners, said: “David is an excellent addition to our partnership. He brings a well-established national practice and a strong reputation, giving our real estate group and Leeds based team deeper capability.
“His arrival rounds off a significant period of investment in our people and we will continue to invest in specialists who broaden the support we can offer clients and help us build a stronger presence in markets where we see a clear opportunity to grow.”
David’s appointment comes during a period of sustained momentum for Brabners, which reported record revenues at the start of the year and a ninth consecutive year of profitable growth. The firm also opened its London office earlier this year, retained its B Corp certification and set out a roadmap to achieve net zero by 2040.
