Coodes lures construction and renewable energy lawyer to growing corporate team

“Coodes Solicitors has further enhanced its Business Services team by recruiting a construction and renewable energy specialist with a background in top London law firms. Jo Cook also brings strong local knowledge through running her own business, Contracts from Cornwall.

Jo trained as a solicitor with one of the UK’s leading full service law firms, London-based Devonshires Solicitors, and went on to work as an in-house lawyer for the London Borough of Southwark and as a construction specialist with leading international firms Boodle Hatfield and Nabarro. She was also in-house commercial solicitor for the UK’s leading solar energy company, Solar Century Holdings Limited.

After moving to Penzance in 2008, Jo set up her own consultancy business, Contracts for Cornwall, which advised businesses and individuals on their construction, renewable energy and commercial contracts. This involved her working with a number of the region’s key businesses and public sector organisations, as well as liaising with South West law firms, including Coodes.

Jo Cook said: “Running Contracts from Cornwall has been a great experience and has embedded me into the South West business community, but I am now looking forward to being part of a team and working on big projects.

“Coodes is growing its offer to businesses, and there is real potential for it to have a team dedicated to construction clients and I would love to have the opportunity of setting that up and training the next generation. Having already established a good working relationship with many of my new colleagues, I know that Coodes is going to offer me the opportunity to develop. As a parent, I am also attracted to the genuinely flexible approach Coodes offers.”

Jo will be based in the firm’s Penzance office, working closely with Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial Sonya Bassett and Partner and Head of Commercial Property Helen Willett, and will also advise clients across Coodes’ network of offices in Cornwall and Devon.

Jo’s appointment is the latest development in Coodes’ strategy of building a Business Services team with a depth and breadth of business expertise, ranging from commercial property, to employment, corporate transactions and commercial disputes.

Coodes Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial Sonya Bassett said: “With her background in top city firms, her experience of working with South West businesses and her in-depth knowledge of the construction and renewable energy industries, Jo brings a unique skill set. Her appointment is part of the expansion of our Business Services team.”