Freeths Bolsters National Real Estate Offering with Senior Partner Hire in the North
Leading law firm Freeths has strengthened its leading national Real Estate team with the appointment of Partner Ruth Clare in Manchester. She joins from Shoosmiths.
Ruth brings over 20 years’ experience having trained with Mayer Brown in London before spending a decade with Eversheds, following her move to Manchester. She specialises in advising retail occupier and corporate clients in respect of the expansion, disposal and management of their property portfolios. She prides herself on building and maintaining strong client relationships, working as an extension of her client’s businesses.
With a strong reputation in the market for her wealth of experience and deep sector knowledge, Ruth brings numerous household names to add to Freeths’ already impressive roster of retail clients. She will work alongside colleagues both in Manchester and nationally to strengthen the firm’s capabilities in advising corporate occupiers, large and small, entering and operating the UK market.
Commenting on Ruth’s appointment, Partner and National Head of Real Estate Darren Williamson said: “Ruth is a highly respected lawyer with an exceptional track record in guiding major retail and corporate occupiers through the full life cycle of their property portfolios. Her experience, commercial insight and collaborative approach make her an outstanding addition to our national cohort. As we continue to see strong demand across the UK for strategic, scalable real estate advice, Ruth’s appointment further strengthens our ability to support clients operating in fast-moving and competitive markets. We’re delighted to welcome her to Freeths.”
Ruth Clare added: “Joining Freeths feels like the next natural step for me, given the firm’s strong national platform and long-standing focus on supporting major retail and corporate players across the legal landscape. The culture of fostering collaboration and the quality of the firm’s Real Estate team stood out immediately, and I’m really looking forward to contributing to the continued growth of the practice and helping clients navigate the opportunities and challenges within their portfolios.”
ABOUT FREETHS
Freeths is a top 50 commercial law firm, trusted by leading private and public sector clients including Centrica PLC, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian, and Lloyds Bank.
Recognised for its landmark High Court victory for 555 sub-postmaster clients against the Post Office – one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British legal history – Freeths continues to advise on the subsequent GLO and Horizon Convictions Redress compensation schemes.
As a certified B Corporation (B Corp), Freeths is committed to responsible business practices, demonstrating its focus on delivering the highest standards of environmental and social impact, governance and inclusion. This commitment is reflected in accolades such as Diversity Champion status from Stonewall, Gold accreditation from Investors in People (2025), Tommy’s Champion status (2025), and recognition as a Top 30 Employer by Working Families (2025). Freeths is also featured in the Legal 500 Green Guide 2026 for its sustainability leadership.
An award-winning firm, Freeths has been named Law Firm of the Year at the City AM Awards 2025 and the Legal Business Awards 2024, and was runner-up for UK Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2025.
