Julia Poulter has been a member of Lewis Silkin’s real estate group for 10 years, advising both landlords and tenants in relation to all types of transactional property matters. She also has extensive experience of acting on property investment acquisitions and portfolio management, as well as real estate development. Julia specialises in the retail, fashion and hospitality and leisure sectors, acting for clients including large restaurant chains, luxury and lifestyle brands and retailers, and one of the world’s leading international auctioneers in relation to their UK property portfolio.
Julia co-heads the firm’s retail, hospitality and leisure sector focus group and co-founded ‘The Collective’ by Lewis Silkin, a thought leadership and networking initiative aimed at the luxury and lifestyle sectors.
Bryony Long is co-head of Lewis Silkin’s data and privacy group. She holds the IAPP CIPP/E data protection/privacy accreditation and advises major business, including international corporations, on complex data protection issues particularly regarding data collection and commercial exploitation. Her background includes experience in consumer and commercial technology, and she works with clients including on matters relating to GDPR compliance, data breach and cyber security, data sharing and commercial agreements.
Bryony is part of Lewis Silkin’s retail, hospitality and leisure, and advertising and marketing sector focus groups.
Catherine Leung (pictured) joined Lewis Silkin in Hong Kong in 2019 as the firm expanded its offering in the region with the establishment of a local employment law practice. Catherine has played a key role in the growth of the firm’s presence in Hong Kong and works with clients across the financial services, luxury retail and technology sectors. She specialises in complex employment and wider workplace matters including team moves, discrimination and harassment cases, and data privacy.
Catherine will join Kathryn Weaver and Andrew Wanambwa as partners in Hong Kong.
Giles Crown, joint managing partner (CMI) at Lewis Silkin, commented: ‘Fundamentally our people are the cornerstone of our business and, at this time of immense disruption, which is being felt keenly across all industries, it is an immeasurable source of pride to see and reward the continued progression of our talent. I’m very pleased to celebrate Julia, Bryony and Catherine’s success and am sure that they will play a central role to our continued growth as a firm.’
Richard Miskella, joint managing partner (EIR) at Lewis Silkin, commented: ‘We will always support the development of our team and are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring our firm remains a champion of diversity and inclusion, across our jurisdictions. As we continue to consolidate our position as the adviser of choice for employment law matters and for brand-focused businesses the world is changing around us, calling for innovative solutions and accessible, empathetic legal advice; all of which are strengths demonstrated consistently by Julia, Bryony and Catherine.’
These promotions (which will take effect as of 1 April) bring the total number of partners at Lewis Silkin to 64 across its offices in London, Oxford, Cardiff, Dublin and Hong Kong.
