Pictured from left to right: Nik White, Susan Samuel and Matt Ramsden
By Legal Futures Associate Brabners
Brabners has appointed Partners Susan Samuel and Matt Ramsden, who both join from DLA Piper, in a move that strengthens its real estate practice in London and Leeds and which coincides with the opening of its permanent office at 4 Coleman Street in the heart of the City of London.
Both moves represent the next steps in Brabners’ nine-year growth strategy, as it amplifies its national reach and strengthens its ability to serve clients operating across the UK and internationally. With revenue surpassing £60.2m and pre-tax profits of £20.3m in FY2025, the firm is now approaching 600 colleagues across five offices and confirms its entry into the UK’s largest legal market from a position of strength.
Samuel, joins with nearly 30 years’ experience in UK and international real estate investment, development and asset management, and will take a central role in developing the London practice as well as building out the firm’s presence in Leeds.
In her new role, she will work closely with the newly appointed team in London, comprising corporate Partner Stuart Hatcher who brings extensive experience advising privately-owned businesses and deep sector expertise in sport, and litigation Partner Russell Strong, specialising in high-value commercial litigation and international arbitration.
Joining long-serving Partner Ross Shine, who continues to drive the firm’s real estate practice, and Partner Euri Yoon, who enhances the firm’s tax advisory capabilities across the corporate team, both from the new London office.
Ramsden, joins to support the firm’s investment and property management team from its Leeds office, and brings particular expertise in helping clients manage complex retail and office assets, with a focus on improving processes and delivering commercially focused advice tailored to portfolio needs.
While the firm’s new office in London, in the historical Moorgate area, spans 5,300 square feet and holds a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating aligned with Brabners’ recent B Corp recertification and commitment to becoming fully net zero by 2040.
Robert White, CEO at Brabners, said: “Susan and Matt’s appointments, along with our move into London, are grounded in our success over recent years as well as the market opportunities ahead. We have genuinely built an independent law firm – with a national reach – from our office locations in the North, and now is the right time to reflect that national reach with the opening of our new permanent office in London. With Susan and Matt, working with Stuart, Russell and the wider team we have assembled, we have the right people, in the right place, to continue to build something special – now assisted by having a physical presence in the largest legal market in the country – building on our ability to serve clients with complex, multi-jurisdictional needs.”
Nik White, Managing Partner at Brabners, added: “4 Coleman Street reflects who we are as a firm – it’s a well-designed space, operated to the highest sustainability standards, and genuinely supports the wellbeing of our colleagues. The real story here, however, is the calibre of the people we’ve attracted. Susan and Matt’s appointment are particularly significant – and bring the kind of expertise, market standing and client relationships that reflect our ambition in the Capital.”
Susan Samuel, Partner at Brabners, said: “Brabners has built something genuinely distinctive with the quality of its people, the strength of its client relationships and a real clarity about the kind of firm it wants to be. There’s a clear opportunity here to deliver commercially focused, high-quality advice at a time when real estate investors and landlords are under significant pressure to adapt to changing requirements. Taking a central role in building the London practice – based on a firm foundation in Leeds – allows us to bring together best practice across the firm, and support our clients’ increasingly complex, multi-location needs.”
Commercial momentum underpins opening
Underpinning this hiring momentum and workspace investment has been the firm’s continued growth across service lines. The firm’s corporate team, for instance, remained one of the UK’s most active dealmakers during the period, advising on transactions worth more than £500m in the first half of 2025 alone – double the value of the same period in the previous year. Standout mandates included advising on the sale of a majority stake in William Hare Group, a £350m turnover engineering firm.
This commercial growth has been matched by market recognition, with the firm named Regional Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2025, ESG Firm of the Year and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2026 and commended in three categories in The Times Best Law Firms 2026.
From its new base at 4 Coleman Street, Brabners brings together deep sector expertise across corporate, litigation, real estate and tax, underpinned by its purpose-led approach and commitment to make the difference for its clients, people, and the communities it serves.
For more information, visit: Brabners
