Profile

Karen Wallis is recognised as one of the leading players in her field. She is one of the very few solicitors now in private practice to have the invaluable experience of working for and within the house-building industry, both as an in-house lawyer and member of regional management teams within the corporate world.

Karen was admitted as a solicitor in 1981. Her experience over the years includes a full spread of general commercial and agricultural property work with a concentration on development and planning dating back to 1991, when she left private practice for industry, taking up an appointment as Group Property Lawyer with Heron Homes Limited.

Following her time at Heron, Karen joined Redrow Homes in 1994 remaining there until 2001. Karen was initially appointed as Group Solicitor, before later becoming Legal Director with Redrow Group Services Limited. During this period Karen acted for a number of Redrow regional companies across the South, the Midlands, South Wales and the South West in addition to involvement with Group-wide projects under the direction of the Main Board. During this time, Karen’s experience was not limited solely to the provision of legal support and supervisory services, as she formed part of each regional management team and participated fully in the commercial life of each company at Board level.

Having worked for more than 11 years within the house-building industry itself, Karen fully understands the financial and cultural demands of this sector and its related stakeholder organisations. ‘I like to be able to deliver,’ says Karen. ‘After years of working in this field, I am fully aware that the lawyer must never forget that the end-game for all the parties involved is profit, clarity and deliverability.’

After 2001 Karen returned to private practice, initially with Clarke Willmott, as partner and eventual head of the firm’s Housebuilding Sector. In 2006 Karen was appointed partner at Osborne Clarke, working in the same field. During her time in private practice, Karen has acted for major corporate and private landowners as well as consortia in various projects. In addition, she has represented most of the leading house-building companies in the UK, including Persimmon, Redrow, Westbury, Barratt and David Wilson. Karen has also acted for major private companies including David McLean, Fox Strategic Land and Property, Westmark and Badminton Homes.

In September 2008, Karen left Osborne Clarke to set up her own practice-Karen Wallis Law LLP. Karen explains. ‘It was the right thing and the right time to go to the next level-as our success has proved. Many of the larger law practices have not yet adjusted to the new economic reality of the times we live in. The clients of my firm not only have access to a very senior, experienced and commercially driven lawyer but they also enjoy the very real financial advantage of a fee structure that is not dictated by large overheads of the more traditional law firm. This is the future and for me it is a future that is extremely exciting!’