Meet James Young, our new associate commercial property solicitor

Q1 – Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m an associate in the commercial team, assisting with the day-to-day running of the department.  I provide advice to our clients on all aspects of commercial property and any company/commercial matters for which they might need legal support.

I’ve worked in the Cardiff legal sector for the last twelve years and have a particular interest in legal matters relating to telecoms, infrastructure and renewables as this is where most of my experience lies.

When I’m not in work, I love to travel – but unfortunately, Covid has put paid to that for the time being! I’m also very keen on archery and love playing and watching a variety of sports.

Q2 – What first interested you in a career in law?

I’ve been interested in the law from an early age as a close family friend of mine was a lawyer when I was growing up. When I was a bit older, I went on to do some voluntary work for the Citizens Advice Bureau, and this experience started me thinking that I probably had the correct skillset to be a lawyer as I loved listening to people and offering solutions to their problems.

After school, I went on to study Law and French in Aberystwyth University before completing a Masters in International Business Law and IT Law.

Q3 – Which area of law do you specialise in?

My area of focus is commercial property, with a particular focus on Landlord & Tenant, telecoms and technology, in the commercial sphere.

Q4 – What attracted you to this area of law in particular?

As a trainee solicitor, I loved the time I spent working in that firm’s property department, focusing on telecoms and technology. I decided then that this was the area of law I wanted to specialise in.

Q5 – What does your role at Harding Evans involve?

In my role at Harding Evans, I work closely with the head of department, Mike Jenkins, supporting him with existing client work, while also focusing on attracting new commercial property clients to the firm.

I was keen to join a recognised and respected law firm here in Wales but one where I would also have the freedom to carve out a role for myself and get involved in shaping the future of the team. I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen so far and can already tell there is great scope to build on the department’s success to date.

Q6 – What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

The best bit about this job is when clients come back to say they are happy with the work that you’ve done. If you can achieve good levels of client satisfaction, it helps with both retention and business growth as they will hopefully go on to recommend your services to others within a similar field.

Q7 – Do you have any tips for someone who’s considering a career as a Commercial Property Lawyer?

To be successful in this job, you have to have great attention to detail, excellent client care and strong commercial awareness, to understand what your client wants.