Mike Trainer

A real estate partner specialising in commercial property development, investment and regeneration.

Tel: +44 (0)870 733 0598

Email: mike_trainer@wragge.com

Best brains in ...

Acquiring development opportunities, development funding, undertaking commercial developments and ultimately realising and disposing of investments. It covers the scope of evaluating risk and at the other extreme, having answers to the questions you do not want to be asked!

Highlight of your career so far?

Acting for a developer from the site assembly of a 300-acre former colliery with surrounding land to the regeneration of the site to a highly successful mixed-use scheme. The whole process has taken years and shows, at its very best, what the property industry can achieve from both a commmercial perspective but also the regeneration of tired assets for the betterment of the community as a whole.

Most challenging job you've done?

The acquisition of a property company. Hard work but good fun, which highlights the importance of good communication both internally and externally as to what the end objectives are and the timescales for delivering the same.

What's your definition of going the extra mile?

Going the extra mile has included working 50 out of 56 hours over a weekend. However I was placed in the shadows by my colleague who did the same when he should have been on holiday! Fortunately we closed.

Undertaking my mandatory site visit of a large development site which we were acquiring in the rain without my coat and in my shoes and suit. Neither shoes nor suit have recovered though it has taught me not to borrow my wife's car when my wellies and coat were still in my car.

How do you get under the skin of a client's business?

Listen more than speak and ask about its business more than you talk about your own.

What's been said about you that you're most proud of?

A client once said 'if you're happy then I'm happy'. It's good to know when you've clients' trust.