Michael Francos-Downs walked out of Brabners last week and straight into Asserson’s Manchester office as legal director. The move signals fresh ambition from the international firm’s northern outpost, which has been quietly building its real estate finance capability from its Arkwright Buildings base in the city centre.
Francos-Downs brings a practice book spanning the full spectrum of secured lending. Landed estates, healthcare facilities, industrial warehouses, buy-to-let portfolios. Large-scale residential schemes. Multi-let retail buildings. He’s worked both sides of the table—borrowers, banks, institutional lenders, private funders, development finance specialists.
High-value, complex transactions. That’s the brief.
The hire represents more than a single appointment for Asserson, which has been signalling expansion plans throughout 2026. Michael Clavell-Bate, partner and head of the Manchester office, framed the move as part of something larger. “Michael’s arrival further strengthens our real estate finance team, where he will work on commercial projects in the north west and across the UK, as well as supporting colleagues based internationally,” he said.
The firm isn’t being shy about its intentions. “His appointment is another milestone in our continued growth in the region, and we look forward to further expansion in 2026 across all our practices, including disputes, corporate and commercial and real estate,” Clavell-Bate added.
For Francos-Downs, the appeal lay in trajectory. “I’m delighted to be joining Asserson at a time of real momentum for the firm,” he said. “The calibre of our existing talent, together with the impressive new hires the firm continues to attract, really stands out.”
Momentum is the word Asserson wants circulating. Founded in 2005 by Trevor Asserson, the firm has grown to 15 partners and more than 75 lawyers. Its pitch: lawyers who’ve worked at senior levels in world-class firms, now servicing international clients under U.S. and English law.
The Manchester team operates as a regional hub, but the work crosses borders. Francos-Downs will support not just north west projects but UK-wide and international matters. That’s the model—local presence, global reach.
“I look forward to using my experience to support the growth of the real estate finance practice and to strengthen Asserson’s presence in the market,” Francos-Downs said.
The Manchester legal market has seen steady movement over the past year, with mid-sized firms competing for talent and clients in a city experiencing sustained commercial property activity. Real estate finance remains a battleground practice area, particularly as development schemes require increasingly sophisticated funding structures.
Brabners, where Francos-Downs served as senior associate, is itself a significant player in the Manchester market. The defection suggests Asserson is willing to compete directly for established practitioners rather than simply growing from within.
Whether the firm’s expansion plans extend beyond real estate finance remains to be seen. Clavell-Bate’s reference to growth across disputes, corporate, commercial and real estate practices suggests a broad-based push rather than a narrow specialisation strategy.
For now, Asserson’s Manchester office has added depth in an area where expertise translates directly to revenue. The firm’s ability to attract talent from competitors will determine whether 2026 becomes the inflection point it’s aiming for.
