Ward Hadaway appoints new director to head up social housing offering in Manchester

Law firm Ward Hadaway has extended its social housing offering with the appointment of an experienced new lawyer in its Manchester office.

Melanie Dirom has joined as director, responsible for advising and providing legal advice and litigation services to many of the firm’s social housing clients and local authorities. Melanie is recognised in both Legal 500 and Chambers Directories for social housing.

Based at the firm’s Manchester office, Melanie is a solicitor and brings with her over 19 years’ experience working as a housing lawyer. She joins from her previous firm, where she was a Partner in the housing team specialising in civil and contentious property litigation for landlords and local authorities in the housing and regeneration sectors.

She started her new role as director in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment Team this week and is looking forward to working within a well-established team. She said: “It feels great to be back in a firm that specialises and focuses on social housing and where sector specialisms are valued. This is a great career move for me and I am looking forward to working with the firms’ existing housing providers, construction companies and local authorities and growing this offer across the North West region.

“I will bring my experience of being a busy housing practitioner to Ward Hadaway. I have a very broad working knowledge and experience of all things housing but also have a strong interest and practice in leasehold disputes”.

Welcoming her appointment is John Murray, Partner and head of social housing at the firm’s Leeds office. He said: “I am delighted to welcome Melanie to the social housing team. She brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge that will further strengthen our offer to new and existing clients, particularly in the Manchester area.

“She is a very highly regarded professional within the sector across the Northern region. I’m looking forward to working with her.”

Melanie graduated from Sheffield University with an LLB Law Degree and achieved her Legal Practice Court (LPC) at Northumbria University. In her spare time, she likes to keep active. She has also recently converted a campervan and is looking forward to exploring the UK.

 

About Ward Hadaway

• Ward Hadaway operates from three offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester
• More than 450 members of staff and 93 partners
• UK Top 100 law firm
• Rated as one of the leading law firms in the country by independent legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners
• Ward Hadaway is a full service law firm, meeting all the legal needs of its wide-ranging client base from across the private and public sectors
• For more information, please visit www.wardhadaway.com

 

 Media Contacts:

For Ward Hadaway’s built environment sector including property, construction and social housing, please contact Craig Downs at Up North Communications on 07811 287 922 or email craig@upnorthcommunications.co.uk

For all other media enquiries regarding Ward Hadaway, please contact Rachel McBryde at McBryde & Co on 07884 342 193 or email rachel@mcbrydeandco.com