Hamlins hires Planning Partner, Martha Grekos, to boost Real Estate practice

Hamlins has appointed planning expert, Martha Grekos, as a partner in its growing Real Estate team.

Martha has built a reputable practice advising clients on planning law and policy for more than 26 years.

She has worked on some of the most high-profile, complex, and politically sensitive urban regeneration and infrastructure projects across London and the UK, advising clients on developments including 20 Fenchurch Street (the 'walkie talkie'); Barking Riverside, the largest housing development in the Thames Gateway; the iconic Centre Point building; HS2; and the redevelopment of Bank Station.

Martha has been running a successful independent consultancy for the past seven years, prior to which she held roles at city firms including DAC Beachcroft and Howard Kennedy, where she was Head of Planning.

Martha has held a number of non-executive director, board advisor, and trustee roles, including having acted as Commissioner for the Mayor of London for the London Climate and Sustainability Commission and independent member of the planning committee of the London Legacy Development Corporation.

She is currently Chair of Royal Docks Waterways, the organisation responsible for London’s 250 acres of historic docks in East London. She is an elected member of the City of London Corporation, chairing the working group which is bringing forward the £9.5 million public realm transformation works on Fleet Street, and is passionate about the sustainable regeneration of the City of London, protecting its future and creating areas for its communities to live and work.

Mark Hurst, Hamlins Head of Real Estate, said:

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Martha to our team. She is an exceptional planning lawyer with an established reputation whose practice will complement and support our existing clients’ needs. Martha’s appointment supports our comprehensive property offering across the entire range of real estate transactions, from traditional investment work, portfolio acquisitions and disposals, early and late-stage development projects, and property finance. We can’t wait for her to get started!”

Martha said:

“I am really excited to be joining Hamlins, a firm that has the same entrepreneurial energy and passion as I do, has similarities in clients, and which has real estate as its core practice. Hamlins has a rich 100-years plus heritage, yet it is modern and engaging, so I know I, and my clients, will benefit from such a thriving environment."

Martha’s appointment follows the hire of Real Estate Partners, Kay Evans in November, and Petar Orlic in April. The growth of Hamlins’ Real Estate team during the past 12 months reflects the continuing increase in client instructions and demonstrates our ambition to further develop Hamlins’ real estate offer.

This, combined with the growth of complementary service lines such as its corporate and employment practices, contributes to Hamlins’ drive to provide a client service offering for the full life-cycle of a property asset, from planning and first development through to leverage, management, and eventual exit.