Jason Wainwright - Partner

Expert profile

Jason joined the property services team in 2005 as partner from Arriva PLC, where he spent five years in-house as their group company solicitor. Jason has excellent corporate experience. He has dealt with numerous acquisitions and disposals including the disposal of over forty motor dealerships and acquisitions of numerous businesses in mainland Europe whist at Arriva. Jason's experience has strengthened the property services team during a period of real growth and he offers our clients a wealth of knowledge in all property related issues, particularly in the areas of investment and corporate acquisitions and disposals.

Jason's specialisms:

• Investment
• Acquisitions & disposals  
• Managing projects in Europe
• Joint ventures & development work
• Property aspects of corporate acquisitions and disposals
  

 In the hot seat...

How would you describe your team?
Everyone is very hardworking and the property team are certainly extremely committed to our clients. Everybody works well together and there is a great atmosphere.

Why did you become a lawyer?
It's a strange one really. Initially I wanted to be a criminal lawyer. I come from a very ordinary background and didn't have any relatives who had gone to university. I did well at school and was always focused on doing something in law. What I love about being involved in commercial deals is the client interaction. A lot of our clients are great fun to deal with.

Why did you choose to work at Muckle LLP?
It has a very good reputation for commercial work. I would loathe to go to the larger firms where I think everyone is more of a number. Often with smaller firms you don't generally get the quality of work but Muckle LLP is different. To me it was the ideal mixture. I was also keen to work with a different Law firm which puts a lot of emphasis on looking after its own people and I was very impressed with the Service Excellence initiative.

What has been the most challenging legal deal you've been involved in?
A purchase of seventeen companies in Germany for 60 million euros when I was working in-house at Arriva plc. There were lots of lawyers and professionals involved and I was the central point of contact between the German legal advisers and the directors of Arriva plc.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I just like dealing with clients to be honest. A lot of our clients are really innovative and are very interesting to work with. Having moved from an in-house position, I like getting involved in the clients business rather than just the legal stuff.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Peter Kay, Catherine Tate, Little Britain and The Young Ones.

What's the last CD you bought?
101 - Depeche Mode.

Is there anything you'd change about yourself?
I'd like to relax more, read more, do more exercise and sleep more!

Are you a morning or evening person?
Definitely an evening person.

What do you most enjoy about living in the North East?
Probably the proximity of the sea. I was brought up near Birmingham, so we were miles away from the sea.

Which 4 famous people dead or alive would you most like to take to dinner?
I would take Margaret Thatcher (not because I like her), Rene Levesque, (a Quebec separatist) Bono and Peter Kay.

Direct line: 0191 211 7951
Email Jason