Top commercial property lawyer at Thursfields retires after near-40 year career

One of Thursfields Solicitors’ most experienced commercial property lawyers is retiring after nearly 40 years of practising in the West Midlands.

Mike Brien, who was born in Solihull, studied law at Cardiff University before returning to the West Midlands to train as a solicitor, qualifying in 1983.

His 38-year career saw him train and qualify in Birmingham and later join Millichips Solicitors, a firm that once had offices in West Bromwich and Solihull.

Mike became a Partner at Millichips’ former Solihull office before joining Thursfields as a Senior Associate Solicitor in 2016.

He said: “I have worked in Solihull for the last 20 years, joining Thursfields from Millichips in May 2016, and have assisted with the growth of the office and the subsequent move to Thursfields’ current larger premises in Warwick Road.

I have, over the years, acted for some household names in the retail sector that have stores in most of the major shopping centres in England and Wales.

In the last three years with Thursfields, I have really enjoyed working with my new colleagues in a dynamic, forward-thinking business.

I am very pleased to be passing on my contacts to Rob Pettigrew and Robin Creek, Thursfields’ experienced commercial property directors based in the Solihull office.”

Mike lives in Dorridge with his wife Shirley, and the couple have two grown-up children – Stephanie, a pharmacist and commercial executive at Alliance Pharmaceuticals in Chippenham, and Jonathan, an accountant and financial analyst at Sky in London.

Mike’s career has seen him specialise in a wide range of commercial property matters including the sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold land and property for development, investment and owner occupation.

He has also handled landlord and tenant work across all sectors, secured lending work for banks, the sale and purchase of businesses, and residential property work mainly for investors.

Mike, who was recommended in the Legal 500’s 2017 edition, retires at the end of August.

He plans to spend more time with his family in retirement, as well as enjoying travel, sporting interests which include cricket, badminton, tennis and spending more time at his local health and leisure club.

Mike added: “I will miss the day-to-day interaction with clients and colleagues, but intend to keep in touch, hopefully introducing new business to the office through my sporting and other networks I have built up over the decades.”

Nick O’Hara, Managing Director at Thursfields, said: “We were delighted to add Mike to our team in 2016, and he has been a key part in helping Thursfields’ growth in Solihull.

He is very well known in the area and we’re very grateful for his contributions over the last three years.

Although we will miss Mike, we wish him and his family the very best for a long and happy retirement.”