Client Directors & business managers

Business development

Our Client Directors are at the forefront of business development activities.  They are responsible for building relationships, understanding our clients’ business goals and tailoring the DJB service accordingly.

Client Directors work closely with the Account Management Team to allocate matters to the appropriate lawyer.  In addition, they pitch for new business from new clients, lead on bids and tenders, act as the voice of the client within DJB and attend client liaison meetings.  The Client Directors are the escalation point for DJB solicitors when help is needed.

Meet the Team

Yvonne Hills - Client Director

Yvonne is a Client Director at DJB.  She is responsible for ensuring we provide the highest standards of client care and legal services to our clients including property investment companies, developers and occupiers.  Yvonne is also a key point of contact to law firms on DJB’s real estate support / partnering initiatives.  She draws on her experience of being a property litigation Solicitor for over 10 years at firms including Mishcon de Reya and Forsters LLP where she provided the advice and representation required to protect her clients’ operational and commercial effectiveness. Having acted for numerous property investment companies, landlords and occupiers on their property litigation needs including lease restructuring, landlord and tenant work, negligence claims and asset management, Yvonne has moved her focus from legal work to oversee our services to clients.

Tel:       0203 026 3467    Mob:    07921 925761    Email:  yvonne.hills@djblaw.co.uk

Sue McCormick - Client Director

Sue is a highly experienced Account Director who joined DJB in 2008. After graduating from Southampton University with a degree in German & French, she travelled extensively throughout Europe in a business development and client care role, managing overseas client accounts and subsidiary companies for major UK exporters.

Since joining DJB, Sue has focused primarily on growing and caring for the firm’s local authority client base. Sue works closely with Madeleine Davitt and undertakes the role of contract manager for many of the firm’s key accounts. Sue takes a very proactive approach to developing the relationship with our clients and with the firm’s legal team to ensure successful delivery of our services.

Tel:        01823 328084    Mobile:  07535 655 060    Email:    sue.mccormick@djblaw.co.uk

Sean Gardner - Client Director

Sean is Client Director who joined DJB in 2015 as a graduate and has over 10 years’ experience in the property sector.  He is the main point of contact for several the firm’s clients, including National Highways, Grainger, and Dorset Police.  Sean also works closely alongside our Senior Partner, Madeleine Davitt, and is the key point of contact for The Royal Parks. Sean is dedicated to providing the highest standards of client care by managing our clients’ affairs effectively .  He has a strong reputation for being approachable and supportive.  His primary focus is maintaining and growing the firm’s Central Government and Wider Public Sector clients. Sean also manages our Client Care team at DJB. 

Tel:        0203 026 8303    Mobile:  07812 677 647    Email:    sean.gardner@djblaw.co.uk

Sarah Galley - Business Manager

Sarah joined DJB after graduating from the University of Cambridge where she read Land Economy at Downing College. In her initial role on the commercial grad­uate scheme, she worked directly with the Board on a number of projects, turning their ‘blue-sky’ ideas into a reality. This included the creation of our centralised system ‘Firmwide’. She has also supported a number of the firm’s key clients as an Account Manager. Now, she is responsible for coordinating and assisting on the business development activities of all Client Partners, including managing and developing our Real Estate Support clients. She also maintains her role as Project Lead on an number of firm-wide initiatives and projects and sits on the Technical Review Panel and Recruitment Task Force. Her thorough understanding of how DJB operates, alongside her track record of successfully working with Client Partners to win new clients, ideally places her to help Client Partners grow their businesses.

Tel: 020 3026 0045    Email: sarah.galley@djblaw.co.uk  

Lizzie Collin - Business Manager

Lizzie joined DJB in 2018 on the commercial track, having graduated from the Univer­sity of Warwick with a B.A. (Hons) in English Literature. Ever since, she has worked directly with Peter and the Board to execute firm-wide projects and initiatives. Her experience within DJB spans from implementing operational efficiencies and building new systems, to marketing, to business development, to managing the Highways England client account. She now focuses largely on marketing and PR initiatives, sitting on the PR, Editorial, Business Growth and Recruitment Task Forces. Her role as a Business Manager brings together all of these different strands of experi­ence, along with her deep understanding of the firm itself, allowing her to help Client Partners grow their businesses within DJB. Lizzie is also closely involving in managing and developing our Real Estate Support clients.

Tel: 020 3026 9443    Email: elizabeth.collin@djblaw.co.uk