Careers Archives

My career as a commercial property lawyer

Posted on 14 July 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

High-quality work right on my doorstep: As part of our new series of ‘talk to Tees’ we will be talking to our lawyers and other team members about their time and experiences. In our first episode we speak to Kay Piper, commercial property partner, about her move from a London firm to Tees.

Q: Why did you choose to work for Tees?

It is a very well-established brand and I was impressed with the forward-thinking structure Tees has and the ability that this gives Tees for succession planning and investment into the firm. Tees is in a strong place as a business and on a progressive, growth trajectory. As I live in Bishop’s Stortford it gives me the ability to have a varied caseload of excellent quality work with clients, and also with properties that are familiar to me. There is the added benefit of working so close to home that I get to spend more time with my family and the commute is lot shorter than previously. Having the office nearby gives me lots of flexibility and choices for the best way to work.

Q: How do you find the work you’re now doing?

You always want quality work – the real complex interesting work where we can add value, and there is never a shortage of this at Tees. My workload keeps me very busy, and the variety makes it extremely interesting.

I work for a wide range of clients including large landowners, farmers, developers of all size, companies and high-net-worth individuals. We offer a bespoke, all-round service to these clients and there is lots of client interaction which I’ve always enjoyed. We get to know our clients and become their trusted advisers.

Q: How big is the team and how does it operate?

The commercial property team covers five of Tees’ six offices, with the largest team sitting in the Bishop’s Stortford office. Overall, there are five partners, two consultants (who are former partners at Tees), seven solicitors, three paralegals and a trainee solicitor.

We each have our own workload and clients, but we also work together in sub-teams on the more complex matters. I enjoy working with the team to come up with the best solution for the client.

We recognise that our clients might require other services from other teams, such as advice on company commercial matters, property litigation and from the private client team for advice on estate planning for those selling their land. With Tees having a breadth of experience and services, we are able to offer our clients a one stop shop for all legal and financial requirements.

Q: Is your team expanding?

Yes absolutely. We are always looking for new people to join the team and it is a very interesting time to join Tees with our future plans of growth. Client demand is high, so we need to keep up with this.

Q: How do you see the commercial property market currently?

The market is buoyant and there is a lot of movement, especially in relation to residential development. As with most things, the Covid pandemic has had an impact on the market, especially the retail aspect, but we are seeing this change and the retail market is beginning to pick up again. There is talk of a recession and/or a slowdown in the property market on the horizon. With our breadth of services, Tees is excellently placed to withstand any changes to the economy.

Q: What’s the working culture like at Tees?

In short, it’s great. We are supportive and collaborative in the way we work. We enjoy working hard but encourage everyone to talk to each other and find the best solutions for our clients in a good team working environment. Tees knows its people are key to its success and from my experience is committed to giving everyone the chance to be their best to succeed and grow. I am part of our trainee recruitment programme and it’s fantastic to be part of this important initiative. Many of our Partners trained at Tees which is a testament to the investment and trust we put in our people.

We operate in an open plan office with an ‘open-door’ policy: questions and running things past each other are encouraged – even when people are working from home. We discuss matters regularly in our weekly team meetings or monthly department meetings. I really like that Tees is a multi-discipline firm because clients are often looking for advice that crosses several departments, so we really get to see the whole project through and spend time with our clients. All in all, I’m delighted with the choice I made to move to Tees.

Tees Law appoints new Senior Partner

Posted on 7 October 202130 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Law, a leading regional law firm with offices across Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Catherine Mowat as its new Senior Partner. Catherine becomes the firm’s eighth Senior Partner in its 108-year history and the first woman to hold the position. She succeeds David Redfern, who will continue as a Consultant and Non-Executive Chairman of Trust Tees Ltd and Tees Financial Ltd.

A career of dedication and growth

A dedicated member of the Tees family since 1998, Catherine began her career as a trainee in the Bishop’s Stortford office. During her training contract, she had the opportunity to work alongside former Senior Partners Rodney Stock in Commercial Property and Richard Tee in Private Client. It was within the Private Client department that Catherine found her passion, which has shaped her career ever since.

After qualifying as a solicitor in 2000, Catherine became a Partner in 2007. Her career progressed swiftly, and from 2005 to 2008, she balanced a demanding caseload while earning an MBA in Legal Practice. In 2009, she transitioned to the Cambridge office, becoming Head of Office the following year, leading the team for four years.

Expertise in private client law

With over 20 years of experience in Private Client law, Catherine specializes in complex estate administration and succession planning. Her expertise spans wills, powers of attorney, and succession planning for rural clients and high-net-worth individuals. She has also developed significant experience in high-value professional deputyships, often acting as a professional deputy, executor, trustee, and attorney. Under her leadership, the Private Client team in Cambridge has grown substantially, achieving a seven-figure turnover.

Leadership and contributions

In addition to her leadership in Cambridge, Catherine has served as a Director on the firm’s main board, Trust Tees Plc, since 2018. She also contributes to the management of the Private Client department across Tees’ six offices and is a key member of the Cambridge office leadership team.

Life beyond the office

Outside of work, Catherine lives near Saffron Walden. She has a passion for music, singing in local choirs, and serving as a trustee for several charities.

A vision for the future

Reflecting on her appointment, Catherine shared, “It is an enormous privilege and an exciting challenge to take on this responsibility. Tees has grown and evolved over the years, but our core values of empathy, clear communication, and collaboration remain unchanged. As Senior Partner, I aim to uphold these values and ensure they continue to guide everything we do.”

She added, “In a rapidly changing world, agility and adaptability are key. The pandemic underscored our ability to embrace new technologies and hybrid working practices. Moving forward, we must remain open to opportunities and use challenges as a catalyst for growth.”

A fond farewell and exciting future

Ashton Hunt, Group Managing Director at Tees, expressed gratitude for David Redfern’s leadership. “David’s unwavering dedication over his 38-year career has been instrumental in making Tees the successful firm it is today. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and are pleased that he will remain involved as a Consultant and Non-Executive Chairman.”

Ashton continued, “Catherine’s extensive experience and dedication make her an excellent choice for Senior Partner. I have no doubt she will lead Tees to even greater success. We are excited for the future under her leadership.”

Tees Law looks forward to the next chapter, guided by Catherine’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Three new female partners tip the balance at Tees

Posted on 1 April 202030 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Three new female partners have swelled the senior ranks at Tees Law, a Top 200 law firm with offices in Bishop’s Stortford, Brentwood, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Royston, and Saffron Walden. Letty Glaister, Eleanor Burroughs, and Kay Piper’s promotions to the partnership mean that female lawyers now comprise the majority of the firm’s partners. In a profession where women typically occupy less than a third of partnership roles, Tees is leading the way in supporting female lawyers to access senior positions and progress in their careers.

Commitment to diversity and equality

Tees’ head of HR, Amy O’Brien, commented: “Tees encourages and values diversity and is committed to equality for its entire staff. Fifty-three percent of partners at Tees are women, and having such a balanced split works really well for us. Each partner, be they male or female, brings different strengths and qualities to the team and contributes to driving the company forward. These principles of equality of opportunity and non-discrimination also extend to the manner in which our employees interact with our clients, our business partners, and our visitors.”

Kay Piper’s vision for commercial property

Kay Piper is head of Tees’ commercial property department in the Bishop’s Stortford office. Speaking of her appointment, Kay says: “I am looking forward to increasing the team’s presence and connections within the community, reaching out to build local awareness of Tees’ expertise in commercial property matters. I am also very keen to further develop a collaborative team within Tees, ensuring that we work together to deliver a joined-up service for our clients. Whilst the entire Tees team is currently working from home, we’re still working hard to keep connected with our clients and to each other. We’re actually finding that we’re communicating more than ever.”

Letty Glaister’s rural community focus

Letty Glaister, who heads up the Royston office, hopes to further strengthen her relationships within the rural community and cement Tees as the law firm of choice for farming clients throughout Hertfordshire and Essex. “It’s really important that our clients trust us implicitly, and that can only be achieved by making a real effort to strengthen our links with the surrounding community, especially during these difficult times when many rural families are feeling concerned and isolated due to social distancing measures,” she says. “Particularly in the rural world, maintaining close relationships is vital as we are dealing with farms that have been in families for generations, meaning that emotions can run high for all concerned.”

Eleanor Burroughs’ commitment to Saffron Walden

Eleanor Burroughs, who has been working at Tees’ Saffron Walden office for 11 years, heads up its residential property department. In addition to her partnership promotion, she has also been promoted to head of the Saffron Walden office, effective from April. Going forward as a partner, Eleanor says she is “looking forward to maintaining the close links we have worked so hard to build up with the local community, and to building the Tees brand.”

A message from the group managing director

Ashton Hunt, group managing director at Tees, is delighted by the three new partners’ success: “At Tees, we have always been assiduous in ensuring our female solicitors are supported in progression to senior roles. Letty, Eleanor, and Kay have all consistently demonstrated their excellence in their fields and commitment to our firm during their time here. Whilst leading their teams remotely during these challenging times, they continue to deliver a consistently excellent service to their clients. Their promotion to partner is thoroughly well deserved.”

Tees boss Ashton Hunt scoops prestigious Director of the Year title

Posted on 30 September 201930 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Ashton Hunt’s successful leadership at Tees Law

You could say it’s been a fairly good few years for Tees’ Group Managing Director, Ashton Hunt. Since taking the reins at the Top 200-listed law firm in 2016, he’s achieved ambitious turnover targets, increased staff numbers by over a third, been instrumental in expanding Tees’ wide range of fundraising and sponsorship pursuits, and accomplished a successful merger with Brentwood-based firm Wortley Byers at the beginning of this year. Tees incorporating Wortley Byers now boasts 30 partners, 325 staff, and an annual turnover of £22 million.

Recognition for dedication and hard work

His dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed. On Friday, 14 June, Ashton was honoured to be awarded the prestigious title of Director of the Year in the Small-Medium Business Category by the East of England branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD), a chartered organisation that represents business leaders across the country. The awards are held each year to celebrate the very best of the region’s directors, recognising not only the key role they play in the UK’s economy, but also in job preservation and creation. They place emphasis on individual excellence and achievement.

A reflection of team effort

Collecting his award at a celebratory lunch at the historic Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, Ashton said: “I’m absolutely delighted to win this award, which is of course a reflection of the commitment and dedication of the entire team at Tees. When I took over in 2016, I certainly had a strong vision for the firm’s future, but I couldn’t have done it alone. Yes, it’s been a pleasure to see the business grow and develop, but I’ve also watched with pride as our people have flourished and put their whole heart into everything I set out to achieve. I’m very much looking forward to what promises to be a bright future for our business.”

Looking ahead to national awards

Also coming up in Ashton’s near future will be the national Director of the Year Awards ceremony, where the regional winners will compete for the top accolade in each category. Ashton will join the best and brightest of the UK’s business leaders at The Brewery in London on Friday, 18 October, in the hope of scooping a coveted national award. Whatever the outcome, though, one thing remains true: Ashton has firmly cemented his place as a talent to watch.